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I ail 






PHILOSOPHIC 



OP 



"I rr t 



Peter Sha 



w 



^1 






{Hi 

I' 



"0-P Book" Is an Authorized Reprint of the 
inal Edition, Produced by Microfilm-Xerography by 
ersity Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1965 



LANE MEDICAL LIBRARY 
STANFORD UNIV MED CENTER 

AUG 9 ?004 

STANFORD, CA 94305-5123 



f Philofophical Principks 

OF UNIVERSAL 

ICHEMISTRie 

OR, it,.... 

* • » • » 

, The F o u N D A T I o N of a fcieritificJ 
i Manner of Inquiring into and Preparing 

* TheNATURAL and Artificial Bodi 
for the Ufcs of LIFE: 

Both in the fmaller Way of Expi ri mjnt, and tl 
; lai^er Way of Business, 

f Defign*d as a 

/general introductio 

i To the Knowledge and Prafticc of 

I 4JRTIFICIAL THILOSOfHT. 

"'''■"■■'::■. . OR. 

Genuine Chemistry in'ali its Branch 

t)rawn from the Collegium Jenenfe (rf* 

|pn aJEOi?&JS ERNESr STAH 



By TETER SHAfF M,D. 

LONDON: 

Printed for John Osborn and Thomas T^ngm 
at the Sbtp in Pflfernojler-Riyaj, 

M.DCC,XXX, 



(V) 



mmmmmm 



T O 

i ■ . • 

Sir Hans Shane Bar^ 

President' of the Royal 
Col/ege of Pkysici Am, 

And of the 

Royal S o ci e t t, London* 

SIR, 

THIS Intrbduiaion to ^r/i- 
Jtc/ai Phtlofophy is laid be- 
fore you, to receive the Cor- 
reftionsand Improvements of a Gen- 
tleman, whole great perlbnal Skill 
and Command in Natural and Ar- 
tificial Things, joind with an un- 
A 3 wearied 

32758f 



vi Dedication. 

wearied and fliccefsful Endeavour 
to promote Univerfal Knowledge, 
have defervedly placed him at die 
Head of two Societies, allow*d the 
moft knowing of all Europe in Me- 
dical, Natural, and Philofophical 
Matters. 



I ami 

SIR, 

Tour mofi Humble Servant y 



Peter Shaw. 



- # 


(vii) 




/^ 





A D VERT ISEMENT. 

THE Of igiml of this Work being 
fcarce known in En^lznAj 'tis ne^ 
cejfary to obferve that it was fir ft 
drawn up^ fame Tears Jince^ by one of the 
greateft Ma/lers in all the Tarts of Che- 
niiftry that Emopc ever tfroducedi in order 
to its being deliver* d by %im in the way of 
College or Ledure^ to the Students in the 
Univerjity ofjcnc : IVhence it foon got ^- 
broad in feveralManuftript Copies i but at 
length a more authentic Latin Edition was 
publijh'd, with the Author* s Connivance^ 
under the following Title. 

Gcorg. Erncft. Stahlij Confiliar. Aulic. & 
Archiatri Rcgij 

F U N D A M E N T A C H V M I .€, 

Dogmaticx & Expcrimcntalis, & quidem 
turn communioris phyficx, mechanics, 
pharmaccutica:, ac medics, turn fubli- 
mioris fic didtx hcrmeticx atque alchy- 
micx ; olim in privates Auditorum ufus 
pofita, jam vcro^ indultu Autoris, publicx 
luci cxpofita, &c. 

Norimberga^ 
Sumptibus Wolfgangi Mauritij An. 1723- 

A 4 From 



A D V E R .T I S E M B N T, 

From this Edition the prefent Tiece is 
principally taken t and employ' d as ^refa^ 
ratory te a Set of Effays, dejign'd for the 
farther application and advancement ofGe^ 
wtine Chcmiftry in England s with regard 
to Science, ArtSy TradeSy and Commerce t 
ortheeflMjhi^g a pr apical, effe^ive, and 
Artificial Philofophy. 

Thegeneral'Purport of the Work is to eX" 
tend the Bufirtefs of Chcmi^xy, and render 
it applicable to the improvement of Thilofo- 
phy and Arts. IVith this View it is con- 
4: tie in the Theory y but copious in the Trac^ 
ttce i fo as to give a kind of Summary or 
prefent State of all Chemical Knowledge i 
the defeBs 'whereof it every where attempts 
tofuppfyi by the addition of new and ujeful 
'Particulars^ not to be met with in any other 
Author : The whole being deliver' a in an 
inftruBive and philofophical manner , or in 
the didaBick Way of Elements, that con- 
tain and lead to many important 'Difcove- 
ries i as we hope more fully to manifeft in 
the C»urfe of our Ejfays upon iMiilofophical, 
Technical, Commercial, and Oeconomi- 
cal Chemiftry. 



THE 



(«) 



THE 

CONTENT 

Preliminariss. 

I ^^Hcmiftry in gineral^ defined. 

\j a,3,4,5 Its fuhji^^ objelt^ means^ 
and efficient Caufe. — pa^ 
6 Its Jntiquityj and principal modern Authors. 
7, 8, 9 How to be learnt w Theory and in Pi 

tice. — 



PART L 
The general Theory 0/ Chcmiftry. 

Sect. L * 

The Stru£iure ^f Simple, Mix'd, Compouno 
and Aggregate Matters. 

I rTn/zf Chemical Strufturc of natural Bo- 

X dies. — 3 

« Their Divi/ton into Simple and Compounded ilx 

The Simple, what. — ~ ib. 

The C<Mn}^oundcA fubdivided into Mtx'd, Com* 

pound and Aggregate. ib^ 

3, 4, 5 Principles, phyjicaly andcbemiiaU "^hat. 4 
6, 7 T'he Chemical Principles afcertuin^d. ib. 
% "^ How produced^ and dtpngui/h^d from phyi^cdA 

or natural Principlci. 



7^^ CONTENTS. 

9,10,11 IFhattbe real and immediate Principles 
of things. ~ p. 5,6 

X 2 I'be number of Mixts. 

13 I'he immediate Principles (?/ Mixes and Com- 
pounds. —— 7,8 

1 4 n:>e principal and efficient Caufe of Mixts. 8 
J S ^heir lefs principal Efficient. — 9 
16,17 The Difference betwixt the Chemical Opera- 

tionsy and thofe of Nature. — — • ib. 

1 8, 19,20 The Forms of Mixts. . 
21 Mixts how to be known from Compounds. 10 
22,23 5"/^^ firmnefs of Mixture. — 1 1 

2^ The Do^lrine of Continuity and Contiguity ex^ 

plained. ■ 11,12 

25 The Regard to be had in the Pradice of Chemi- 
ftry to Mixts, Compounds, and Aggregates. 26 

26 Mixts and Compounds to be examined before 
Principles. — • — 12,13 

27 Jnd firji Waters % their various kinds. 13 
28,29 Then Earths •, but neither found pure and 

fimple. — 14 

30 TheOrigin of Salts andOilsfromE^arth ^//^ Water. 

3, 

3 1 Minerals and Metals from Earths. 1 4f 1 5 

32 IVhence Gold^ Silver^ Lead^ Tin^ Iron^ and Cop- 
per. — 15 

33 IVhence the Compofition of folid SaltSj the uni- 
verfal Acid^ Bitumen and Oil^ Sulphur ^ Cinnabar^ 
comtnon Salt and Nitre. I5>i6 

34 Arfenic^ Mercury^ Sulphur^ Realgar. 1 6, 1 7 

3 5 Alum^ Boraxy Lime. ■ 1 7> 1 8 
^6 Bifmutb^ Zink^ Marcafitc^ Antimony. 1 8 
37 Mineral Compounds reduced to Clajfes. ib. 
3 8 Vegetables compcfed of Minerals. 18,19 
^^ — Their fever al parts. — -^ 19 
^o Roftns andCwHS. .— 20 
41 Animals, how ibsy differ from Minerals, ib. : 
42,43 The Chemical PrincipUi fomd co^ioujl^ in 

Animals. — Ao ^ " 



Tha. CONTENTS. 



Sect. IL 

Thi Object of Chemisty, confidefd un- 
der the Notion of Destruction or 
Resolution. 

1 Mix//, Compomh and Aggregates bow offered 
by Deftrudlion, or Refolution ^;iJ Diffolution* 

p. 21 

2 The ProduSlions of Diffolution in a folidform. 

ibid. 

3 Its Produtlions in a fluid form. — r- 2 2 
4,5 Compounds divided into Fluid, Solid, Fixed 

^»^ Volatile. • 22,23 

5 Corrofible and Incorrofible, Inflammable and 

Uninflammable. —— 23 

6,S Combination by ColleSlion and Union. 23,24 
9 Artificial Mixts and Compounds. — ib. 

12 Deltru6tion or Refolution ^/Aggregates into 
their integrant parts. — 26 

13 How effected by Comminution, ^r Granulation. 

ib. 

I4^I5^I6,1 7, 1 8,19,20,2 1,22,23 Limation^ Ex- 
tinction f Sublimation 9 Calcination^ Sohtion^ Cor- 
rofion^ Amalgamation and Fufion. 27 

24 Compounds, bow refolved into their conftituenc 
parts. ■ 29 

25,26,29,31 By Diftillation, ReStification^ De- 
cantationj Evaporation^ Filtration^ Amalgama- 
tion^ Sublimation^ Deflagration and Difflation. 

29t30,?i»32 

32 Whence the method of obtaining the volatile and 
fixed parts of Compounds. — 32,33 

33 Compounds totally volatile^ or totally fix'' d, bow 
diffolvable. •— — ' 33 

3^ Specific Corrofion. — ib. 

35* 



rhe CONTENTS. 

35»3.6»3 7>39»4 1 Menftruums dmded into Aqueous^ 
Saline^ Jcidj Alkaline and Oleaginous, p. 33,34f 

35*36 

43 Hot and dry Corrofion. •■• 37 

44 /n the way of fttfton. •— ib. 
Afi Cementation. •— 38 
47 Gradation. — ib, 

49 71^^ incorrofthle part of Compounds obtainable 
Jv Edulcoration. — 39 

50 precipitation without beat. — ^ ib, 
52 by way (?/Regulus, ^;;J the Cupeh with 

Heat. — 40 

Ib. Regulation and CupcUation explained. 4 1 
Si "The ufe of the Separating-Glafs and Filtrc, in 

the Separation (j/" Compounds. — — 42 

Sect. IIL 

The Object of Chemistry, conjidefd 
under the Notion of Generation or 
Combination. 

1 Bodies^ how formed. — - 43 

2 — by coUedtive Combination, -^ ib. 
2*^ or by Coagulation and Cryftallization. ib. 
4 — Colliquation and Redudion. «— ib. 
6 Combination by Union, or the Generation of 

Compounds. ■ ■ m ■'■ 44. 

*j .^by means i?/* Fermentation. •— ^ ib. 

9 T^be Inftrumcnis thereof. — ib. 

I o Its Phyfical or Mechanical Modus. -— 45 

ly VMSoXwloxy Fermentation. — 47 

18 — /;/ what SubjeSls to he ajjijfed by Art. 48 

19 Combinatory Fermentation or Confermentation. 

ib. 

20 ~ lis Fofm. — ib. 
22 IVhence the Comhinaticn of Water andOA. 50 
?4~^ Vinegars. — -^ ^\ 



I iHii III I I 



=SSBEEBH 



the ceilTBHTA 

25 — And volatUi Salts, .; . , 'f^^ 

28 AffimUatoryFcrmentatioii.'.. •'•-•.,. 

29 Cobohation of km. Ui Combmaifry Etrmad 

32 Artificial ProduSkns 0/ natural EfiOi^ 1 

/)//)f^^ w Vitriol •-. . . ^, , 

33 Cinnabar, — • . /. a, 

34 Sulphur. / I . » y .;. 

35 Mercury. •— -^ ; • -. ' 

36 Arfenic, . ., . --^ 

37 Lead mm' p«ii« -^r 

Sbct. IV. V^^ 

7i&^ Common Instruments ij^CiiiiJ 
CAL Operations. 

1 Inftrumenti of Oftratm and. Admtn^aii 

2 Fire €onfidered as an iHftrument* v i 

5 ^mm bow it makes Heat. •«• i 

6 — Its Eflfefts. r— •— i 
8 ~ Illufiratei by Diftillation. . — p* i 

10 Air, conftdend as an Inftrumint. — ^ 6 

1 1 — . compared mtb Heater. -mi--^ 6 

12 Hi^iO Water contributes to Effervefcence. 6. 

13 Earthy the Principle of Reft. — ^ 6/ 
1 5 T'ib^ mechanical Agency of Menftruums. 6( 
17 Tibf peculiar InftrumentsofOj^ation. i.*- 66 
i^ Inftruments of Adminiftratton^ viz. Furnaces. 

- • ' ibid. 

7!6^ Air-Furnacc im/rw^J, -i—i ib. 

19 T'ib^ Di(tillingJ**umace, Wi---;* . 69 

2 1 T'i'^ peculiar and immediate Jnjiruments ofAd* 

miniftration. - >i r- ■ 70 

lb. 23,24,25,26 viz. Fifwrf, /i^ 5iMi*i Raysj 

Air^ fFater and Earths. 7I»72^73^74 



the CONTENTS 

PART II. , 
7';&tf Practice <j/* Chemiftry. 

Sect. I. 
Salts. 

And frfi thofe of the Mineral Kingdom, 

I 

1 Q\diLTS in general^ what. -^ p- 77 

2 i3 — ff^henee eafily mix* d with other bodies* lo. 

3 — Are effentially fluid. — jb, 

4 — How they become folid. ■ ■ ib, 

5 JVbence their difference. — — ib, 
A leading Experiment J whereby to difcover their 

nature. — — 78 

7 yf« univeralSalt or Acid. 79 

8 7i6i? manner of preparing^ ixx\o\ by Evapora- 

tion. — — — ib. 

By Calcination. ■ ■ 80 

Its component parts. « 8 r 

9 Effects of its re-cryfiallization. ib* 

10 Its pure faline parts difficultly feparable in Oc- 
clufo. ^ . 83 

1 1 77ji? beft way of obtaining it. — ^ 83 

12 Whence the ordinary volatile Spirit of Vitriol, 

84 
The alchemical volatile Spirit e/ Vitriol. 85 

13 The common Spirit of Vitriol. ' -^-— 85 
iJ^The metallic part of Vitriol, bow feparated. 

86 

1 5 Alum^ its component parts* 87 

16 How refolvedinio them. ■ 88 

17 Nitre, what^ how generated and procured. 88 

18 The thing illuftrated by Experiment. —90 



rhe. CONTENTS.:: 

2 Tbe Origin of C9mm(fn Sulphun •— jv 

3 //i compound nature upon Andjfis. . ^ 

4 Whether its Acid be a conjiituent fwrtf J 

5 97?^ component parts thereof. — . , 

6 Sulphur is totally fublimaile mOccWo. : 

7 Whether it may be totally fi^d or volatUhfi 
advantage. — — i 

8 ne Hepar Sulphuris, bow prepared^ audi 
extracted. — — . t 

9 DiJJblved in Wafer f gfves Jigns of a metalUc 
ture. " ■■■ -"" ■ .1 

1 2 T'Z'^ Oleum Sulphuris per Campanam, bpwf 
cured. — » i 

13 Sulphur differs according to the place it^s fou 
. !>. ' li 

14 — //<7W combined with Metals in the making 
Vitriol. •— »- j( 

Jb. — And Cinnabar. — ft* , it 

1 5 27^^ methods of fining Sulphur into Metal by Cot 
binafion. . -«-..—. . '16 

20 Cinnabar ;/^//w, the fame as artificial, 17 

21 — //t?z«; compofed^ and how feparated. 17 
,23 Methods of reducing Cinnabar /^ Metal, ly^ 

24 £/7>if7j (>/* f/j W;7g fublimed with Gold. ib 

2 5 A/^-y ^/br<i /A^ Phihfophical Mercury. < ijt 

26 Antimony,, its component tnrts. » j 77 
Ib. — Its Sulphur. ' ■■ ■ ■ ib. 

27 — Found in its, Butter and CinnCibar. 178 

28 •'- made to afford a highly fubtilized Sulphur. 

29 What is meant by the Sulphur of Vitriol. 1 80 

30 T'/^^/^^Z/^rf/Z^^Sulphur ofWitrioU how prepared. 

3 1 Whether a Sulphur be naturally contained in 
Nitre. -■ 182 

22 An attempt to procure common Sulphur from the 
common Spirit of Nilre^ — - 183 

a 55 



^^ii^um^^mmhmiMilila^aMmutmiimmmim 



the CONTENTS 

33 Other mineral Sulphurs very different from the 
common. ■■ "' ■ P* ^^4* 

34 Vegetable Sulphurs claffed under Pitchy koftns^ 
and Oils. " ■■' ' ■ 185 

3 5 The Matter and Jnahjis of Rolins, . ib, 

S6 Effential Oils. i56 

37 — hew feparated or procured from Vegetables 
by Diftillationy to beft adi>antage. 187 

40 — how from foft RoJinSy GumSy fcfr. 189 

41 Whether it be Salt or Oil that flavours the Wa- 
ter ufed in the Operation. * ib. 

42 J method of obtaining thefe Oils by means of 
the Sun and ftronger heat. — r 190 

43 Benjamin and Amber afford alfo afaline volatile 
Subjtance. * • — ib. 

44 Vegetable Sulphur s^ how beft exlraSfedy or made 
into Effenccs and Extra^s. -~ 19 1 . 

46T/?^ Sulphur (?/Pm^-^/)/)/^;, LycopcxHum, (^c. 

193 

Ib. That of Wood-Coals. *>■ 194 

49,50 Animal-Sulphurs, how feparated or prepared 

ftmply \ and how by Bift illation. — - 196 

52 — bow re£iified or cleared of their empyreuma. 

197 
5^ -^whether empyreumatic Oils contain an Acid. 

198 

Sect. III. 
Waters. 

I ^he Difference of Waters. — 199 

.2 Whether Water be a fluid Earth. ib, 

5 Waters dffering upon account of the earthy par* . 
tides they contain. 201 '\ 

6 72?^ Acidula; and Th^rm^^ 6u( {tnjcrfsQt-^ uti- " 
- derjiood^ ■ ■ ■ ■ 



ne CONTENT.a| 

7 Waters, tbo* in/tpidy may have Jlrange i} 

P 

8 PVbence Oils appear in ibe form of PFatcn 

9 U^belber diftilkd fimpk Waters retain ibi 
tues £f the Simples. -^— ^ 

1 1 Mercury of very diJfcuU Aualyjis, ^ 

12 How found or pmured from its Ore or <4 

13 lis Nature mctallk in general \ hut o fwba^ 
cies bard to determine. •^.""^■B 

i60^beiber Metals are reducible to Mercury, 
Mercury to Metals. — , 

.18 Tbe common cbahges made 0/ Mercury, i 
*I9 The preparation ^ Mercury-SuUimate^^A 
20 The Rationale of ibe Operation. -y^h^ 

0.1 A more curious Mercury-Sublimate for mtie^ 
gicalufes. '■ "' v ■■■ % 

22 The red Mercury preclyt'4e. . •r— 3 

53 'Tbe yellow Mercury precipitate. 2 

25 The. didcified orfweet Mercury-Sublimctte. 

26 The Mercury eafily recoverable from all tb 
preparations. — — 2: 

2y lFbeiberMetc\xry may be augmented by a j 
line Spirit. ^*^ 2i 

28 The thing countenanced by the Smoking Spiri 
and the Oil of Mercury. il 

29 Mercury precipitated ptr ic in the pbilofopbia 
vieiv. ■ 21; 

30 The compounds of Mercury. —— 22 

3 1 The manner of dijlilling it into a Liquor per ft 
and recovering it again in a running form. 22"- 

32 The methods of generating or producing Mercury, 
' confidered. — 224 

33 Philofophical Mercury in the methods of Snyder^ 
Philaletha, ^»^ Suchten, — 225 

34 Their foundation and ufe. — 226 

35 The Nature and Preparation of animated Mer- 
cjry. ~— • 227 

a 2 . 5i?.ct* 



He CONTENTS. 

Sect. IV. 

Earths. 

1 Earths,, what in a chemical Senfe. 228 

2 ^heir difference in generaU •-^ 229 
Jb, Whence their difiinStion into friable and duSlile^ 

or into Earths and Metals. — ib. 

3 ^e differences of o^ake friable Earths^ with re- 
gard to Cbemiftry. ■» m .^^ ib. 

Ib. ^be Differences of Boles reducible to that of Loam 
and Clay. — — ib. 

4 Marls and Clay s^ bow tbcy differ from Loams. 

231 

5 T'be tenacity of Earths from a faline matter^ 
Jhewn by experiment in Lime. — • 232 

.6 ^«^Gypfum or calcined Alabafler. 23^ 

7 *The tranf parent Earths or Gems. 234 

8 T!he Fundamentals of the knowledge of Gems 
and Stones. — — 235 

■ . 9 Whence Gems receive their colours ^ uncertain. 237 

10 ^he farther Struolure and Compofition ofBolar 

Earths. — — ib. 

:i I The manner of feparating their parts. 238 

-. 1 2 *The compojition and ufe of artificial Clays or 

-: Lutes. ■ 239 

. 13 Gums and Mucilages are attenuated Earths. 

241 

145^ likewife are thefalival and 7nucilaginous Juices 

of Animals. — — ~. 242 

J 5 Animal Gums or Glewsj how obtained. 243 

18 The Mucilages and Gums of Vegetables j how 
procured and purifed. —7—^ 244 

19 Metals in general^ what. — ■ ■■ 245 
Ib. Divided into perfect and imperfc£l^ complete and 

mom£kle. — • 



the CONTENTii 

20 In what refpeli^ tbeperfeSl differ fhm A 
perfeSl Metals. — — jj 

21 Arid in what manner Mercury isfixml 
Metals by Digejiion. — 

23 JVbetber Metals are naturally frodueei i 

ftanti. .— .\. 

28 How far the natural produSlton of MetiU 

countenance the artificial^ or the buftnefs efTi 

mutation. — — 

30,3 1 T'he foundation of the frocefs for makitt^ 

ttficial Metals by Precipitation. — 
33,34216^ manner of ex trailing the metallk 

phur^ and introducing it int^ other metallic A 

257 

35 "The bufinefs of Metallurgy^ or the Separati 
Metals from their Ore. — 

36 Ores, bow found. — 

37 — how prepared for Fufton. —— 

39 — affayed. 

40 tVith what matters ufually mixed and inj 
in the mine. ' 

41 For what reafon to be feparated from 
before fufton. . — - 

43 Inconveniences attending the bufinefs of Sme 
with their Remedies. — 

45 How tofeparate one Metal from another. 

46 ^be Caution required in the affay by Cupelli 

47 Infiruments required in the bufinefs ofCupeUi 

48,49,50,51 Yiz. the Furnace^ the Muffle 
Tejl^ and the Cupel. — 269,270 

53 the bufinefs of Cupellation in all ils Cit 
fiances. T^. 

54 — Rationale thereof. — — • 

55 Farther particulars requiftte in affayinj 
ftubborn Ores by Cupellation. ^-^ 



ni CONTENTS. 

58 ms Procefs applicable to ibe refining c/Gold and 
3ilver9 hut has its inconveniences and imperfeSlions. 

p. 279 

59 fn)encehe2id finks into the Cupel in the Opera- 
, tion. •»— • 280 

60 Gold ^»^ Silver, bow feparated from eacb other 
t^rQuartation. i— 282 

61 fh)e(her Gold may h perfe^ly refined hy Acjui 
Regia, and Aqua fortb. ~ 282,283 

62 Gold, how refined h^ Antimony. 284 
^2 — bow found in its Ure^ Sand^ (sfc. 285 
lb,— how wajhed, —— . ib. 
64 •— bow feparated by Fufion. ••— 286 
05 — bow by /Imalgamation. — 287 

• 6s Other Melals^ bow feparated from their Ores, 

288 
6y Whether Gold has any great medicinal Virtues. 

291 
6Z ^^ alterable in its Nature. •— ^ 292 

•69 ^he common and fecret Operations ufually per- 
formed upon it. — ^ 293 
70— •Amalgam ^/' Gold, /?(?«; w^^^. ib. 
71 How fitted /flr Gilding, and applied. 294 
lb. ^ in the fmaller work. — i- ib. 

lb. -^ in the larger. ■ 295 

72,73 Coloration effected two ways, 296,297 
lb. Colourifh^ what y its ufes in Gildings and the 
examination of Gold. •^— 297 

74 Gradation^ whereon it depends. — 298 
75,76 — /6^ more perfeli kinds of it^ particularly 
that of Btchtr., -^— 299,300 

77 '— with its foundation. •— • ^00 

78 —» that with the red Glafs of Copper, ib, 

79 Gold, bow rendred eager ^ and bow tough. 301 
ZoThe medicinal preparations of Gold in the way 

of Solution and Sublimation. •— 302 

%\ In the way of dry Calcination. , ..-— 304 



rhe CONTENra 

82?%^ variwi CrMu^spfGcid^vtOt. d tU 
/affront a yelhw^ and fur^i<0h$iriJ. pi 

83 Pbanomena^ //#^i> &r.' rfthi hxOv^'K 

nans. — — • 

%^An expeditious method of tiUiiig^Ifon: ' 
85 TtnSiures (?/Gold generaUy tio mote tbMl 

' tions. ■ " ■ 

B6Ex(ramons of Goldj what i partidtlirlj ih 

' Mr. Boyle. — ; 

87 Gold highly fuhtilized in the PurpU-GUfs. \ 
%% And by other treatment. — 3 

89 What changes may he ix/rougbt upbn Gold k^ 
ftrong and gentle heat. -*-»- J 

90 T'he changes brought upon Gold hy Trituratt 

2 

9 1 ^befe changes^ whether ejftritial Refoktionst 

whether Gold be capable thereof. 3 1 

92 91?^ juft notion of Phi!ofophical Gold. 31 
lb. A Procefs recdmmended for obtaining this Gol 

94 Silver dt^fmbed as more ufeful than Gold. 32 

95 Its mecbamcal ufes in the forming ofVeffeh^ fsfi 

lb, How made ductile. — ib 

^(i How mixed with other Metals. — ib. 
97 lis medicinal ufes. ~— 323 

08 Its curious chemical ufes. — • ib.^ 

Ib. J*/?^ Arbor Dian«, ^r Silver-Tree, how made. 

\h. 

f>9 Copper ^/li Iron nearly related. 324 

b. How calcined with Sulphur in the ijuickeji man-^ 
ner^ and with greateft eafe. 324,325 

Ib. Are alfo eakinable with Antimony and Arfenic. 

326 

100 Alfo with Salts into Vitriols, particularly with 

theAcidofSi\l^\\ur. ' '••— ib. 



The CONTENTS 

10 1 TbeVilriol i?/ Copper convertible into (bat of 
Iron. -— p-3^7 

102,103 Both tbefe Metals foluhk in Aqua fortis 
andinWM%^T^ but with fome difference. 337> 

328 

J 04 Copper, bow made into Verdigreafe. 328 

105 ^be nfedicinal preparations of Iron. 329 

106 The medicinal preparations <?/ Copper, 330 
, 107 A fine Cupreous Subftance in Iron. ib. 

108 yf curious cbemical ufe of Ivon. 331 

109 Copper, bow blancbedj or made to refemble 
Silver in the vulgar ways. ^— ib. 

no How in the more uncommon ways. 333 

111 How in tbe fublimer Metallurgy. — 334 . 

112 How made to refemble Gold. — 335 

113 ^be Preparations from Iron. — ib. 
Ib. A ready and commodious way of converting Iron 

into Steel. — ib. 

Ib. The reafon of tbe Operation. «— 336 

114 Tbe method of cafe-bar dening Iron Inftrunvcncs. 

115 How to foften Iron even for graving. ib. 
I i 6 Hints for artificial Mines of Gold. 337 
117 Tin and Lead differ widely. — ib. 
Ib. Tin defined chemically. — — ib. 
Ib. Its mechanical ufesy when reduced to Putty. 

338 

118,119//; medicinal ufes in the Antihefticum 

* Potcrii, and the Anticolicum Mynfichti, or Salt 

cfT\n. — / 338 

.120 The chemical ufes of Tin. — 339 

M2i,i22,i23',i24 The Preparations of Lead/dr 

mechanical J medicinal and chemical ufes^ viz. 

Litharge^ Cerufcy Calx of Lead, Sugar of ht^d^ 

and Magiftery ^Lead. — — 340,341 

125 72»^Tinftura Antiphthifica, bow beji made. 

34Z 
izSGlafsofhsxd^ ■< . - > ^"-^ 



7^^ CONTENTS. 

127 The cbemkal ufa ^ Glafe ef Lcad^ i 
lU lu mecbamcal ufi$ f^r making Enarml 

128 Bifmuth andZick^ ibo^hut little kmm 
e9ca7ninedf are of a true metallic nature^ 

lb. Bifmuth difohed in Spirit of Nitre, &c. 

1 29 Bifmuch and Zink are of great mecbanm 
; in the making of Solders. — 

lb, J yellow Zink. » 

130 Jll of tbem eontalH the nobler metals. 

131 Antimony, it$ Nature and CompfUion. 
132,133 How cakined^fiiUimed^ vitrified andj 

with fixed Alkali. . 347* 

1 3 4^ The Regulus 1/ Antimony defined fron. 

properties. * ■ ■ ; 

lb. How to be rendred malleable^ or like to Lt 

."•••I 

135 How made into Butter of Antimony. 3 
lb. This Butter^ bow tbmned and precipitated i 

Mercurius Vitae. • * — — 350t3, 

lb. The Bezoar Mineral. ^ " 3* 

136 Diaphoretic Antimony. — * 3 £ 

137 "The Bczoardicum Solare, iiir^ Bezoardicui 
Lunare. — — 35 

138 27?^ Bezoardicum Mwitiale. — 35, 

139 The Bczo^Akum j^oviiAt and Antihedticun 
Poterij; 1— 35( 

140 27?^ TtnSuresof Antimony. — 357 

141 I'be chemical ufes of Regulus of Antimony, 
in the Refolutions^ Depurations and Extra^ions 
of Metals. . ■■> ■ 359 

lb. The manner of preparing the martial Regulus of 
Antimony* — -— ^- 359 

142 The manner wherein Antimony a£ls upon 
Gold^ &c. in fufion. ■ - ' ■■■ .> 361 

143 The Regulus of Antimony, whence its different 
. names among the antient Chemijis. — 363 

1 44 ^bc L:ad ij^ Antimony, how prepared, 364 



rha ;CONTEMTS, 

145 //i ufe in tbf Mflioraim oj Metals. p» 365 
^46 The ufe of Regi((usp/ Antimony in extrA^lifig 
the metallic Sulphurs. — — 365 

147 IIq'u^ readily made perfectly fure and brigbt.i66 
149 yl genuine and facile xvay of making btellate 
; Regulu?. -^r-^ .969 

1^0 The Star eafily deftroyed and regenerated. 

370 
1 5 1 The nature and ufe of the Scoriae, 370 

J 52 To purify and pur ff the Regulus (/Antimony 

from ofber metallic Matters. —- 371 

1.53,154,155 The Regulus of Antimony convertible 

. into various formib\ Calcination and Vitrification^ 

Fulmnation and tufion wltbNitre^ and Fufion 

with Salt of Tartar. — — i 372*373 

156 ^fhe Antimonium Dwphoreticum, treated in 
the fame manner. ■ . ■ 374 

157 The Preparations from Regulus ij/" Antimony 
reducible to Antimony again. ■—• 375 

158 Not the fimple^i but the i?/^r//V Regulus to be 
ufed in the Pbilofophical ff^ork. -r^ 375 



SUPPLEMENT, 

Concerning f^^ Mercuries of Metals, and the 
Philofopiicr's Stone. 

Sect. L 
Mercitf ificatipn, ^r /^(^ Mercuries 4?/*Mctals, 

I TV /T^'^^ Arguments for and againft the 

jLVjI ''^^/^V^<?^/^i? Mercuries ^Bodies, 376 

% TbefeiAQTcnncs have a real exiftence^ and may 

. ie procured in Prafticc upon juji foundations^ 

. r . V : !>m 



"The CONTENTa 

3 Ah experimental Procefsfor the Mercurifiott 
of Gold, or reducing fbe Subftance of it U 
running Mercury, p. 3 

4 A Procefsfor obtaining the Mercury ^/Leadg 

5 ^be methods for obtaining the Mercury of Ak 
monj. — — 383*^3 

6,7 Other wa'js for effecting the fame things i 

commended by Bechcr. — ~ 3S5~*3( 

9 "the principal ufe of thefe Mercuries of Mcta. 

r 39 

10 How to fix Mercuries into permanent GoL 

39 

1 1 Which the be ft procefsfor Mercuries ^ Metal 

393*39^ 

Sect. II. 
The Philofophcfs Stone. 

1 ^he early Origin of the Philofophcr's Stone. 

^ 393 

2 Tranfmittedfrom the Egyptians to fZ?^ Arabians, 
and at length to Paracelfus, but with fmall ad- 
vantage^ unlefs a Clue be obtained. 394i395 

3 Three principal Orders of Inquirers after the Phi- 
lofopher's Stone. ^gf^ 

4j5>6,7 Viz. (i.) Thofe who work upon Vitriol. 
(2.) Upon Nitre, (3.) Upon running Mercury 
and Gold. — — — 396 — 401 

8,9 The method of the Philofophical Work by 
Mercury, delivered. — — ~ 401,402 

10 The Nature and Rationale of the Operation. 403 

1 1 The production of Philofophical Gold, and thf 
buftnefs of the Roiztions. - — 404 

12 The multipliable nature of VhWofophical Gold. 

405,406 

13,14 The Materials and Treatment requifite in 

this Method by Mercury, 406,407 



7^^ -CORTENTS, 

145 /''^ H^ l» ^*^ MfUoratm 0/ Metals, p. 365 
;46 Tpe uA of Regulus, of Aniiv[iOTiy in txtraSlihg 

the metallic Sulphurs. — — . 365 

147. Uqw readily made perfeSily fun andbrigbt,i66 
149 A genuine and faciU %vay of making Stellate 

Regulu§. .~-. .969 

1^0 The Star eajily dejiroyed and regenerated. 

1 5 1 Ti&^ «^/«r^ and ufe of the Scoriae, 370 

J 52 ^0 purify and purge the Regulus (/AntimDny 

from other metallic Matters. , -^f—- 371 

1 53> J^ 54» 155 2"^^ Regulus ^Antimony convertible 

. into various for mi-hy Calcination and Vitrificatioft^ 

' Fuhmnation and Fufton with Nitre^ and Fufion 

with Salt of Tartar. — — i 372*373 

156 It be Antimonium Dwphoreticum, treated in 
the fame 7nanner. ■ . ■ 374 

157 7'i>(? Preparations from Regulus of Antimony 
reducible to Antimony again. ■—• 375 

158 Not the ftmple^ but the w^r//^/ Regulus to be 
ufed in the Philofophical fVork. -r^ 375 



SUPPLEMENT, 

Concerning the Mercuries of Metals, and the 
Philofophcr's Stone. 

Sect. I. 
Mcrowificatipnj.er/^^'M^rqarics^/Maals^ . 

I TV yT^iV'jr Arguments for and againft the 
1\A reality of the Mercuries of Bodies, ' 

a 37?(?/^ Mercuries have a real ^xifience^ 4m 
be procured in Fr^&icc upon jufi found 



===3 

prelimY^arie 

I , "1 Tj Niverfal CHBMTf try is the 
I I of rcfolving mixt, compound 
^^ ii^r^^iaf^ Bodies into t heir y, 

cipies i and of compofiagyJ/f A Bodies ft 

thofc Principles'. 

2. It has for its SnbjeB all the wi; 
compound^ and aggregate Bodies that 
tefolvable and combinable % and Refolut. 
and Combination^ or Deftruilion and C 
iieration, for its ObjeB. 

3. Its Means in general arc cither i 
OTtf^^ or immediate B that is, cither J?j/?f 
ments or the Operations chcmfclvcs. .* 

4. Its JS»^ is cither philofophicd an 
t he or et teals or medicinali mechanic at ^ ota 
mmicaly zndpra^icalf. 

'5 . Its efficient Caufe is the^ Chemift. 
6. This noble Art was, in fe^ral branchc; 
of it, very early cultivated. Tubal-cain the 

Son 

I 

* The juftnefs of this Definition will appear from the 
fcope and tenour of the Worki though it is rather adapted 
to the perfeft, than the prcfcnt impcrtcd ftatc of Chemifiry : 
but for particular information as to the mix^Jt compmaJ^ 
and aggregate Bodies^ into which all matter may. for the 
furppfes of Chemifiry and natural Vhilofofhy^ be commo- 
dioully clivided, fee §. i. 5. i»i. Ancl for the Vrincifies 
here meant, y 3.4,f,&7. 

t Hence umver/kl Chemifiry is commodioufly rcfolvcd 
into fcvcral Varts or Branches^ under which it muft be di- 
ftinclly treated to give a juft notion of its due extent axvd 
ufefuluefs. For tho* in common acceptation at tVvc wotA^ 
Chemj}ryjs fuppofcd to relate chiefly to the Art «f Medi- 
//jvv as it fupplics thdt An with Remedies, ih\s ^^^^^^^ 
'' ^^^ a rcr/ fm;ill pm ofits ufe, compatcd v<vt>^ '^''' ^^ 



Preliminaries. 

Son of Cain is by * Mofes proposed as its In- 
ventor, It was very commonly known, parti- 
cularly to the J&^///^wx, in the firftAges*. 
f/. Among thofc who havq principally exceU'd 
' therein of late, are Jfaac HoUandus^BaJilVa- 
tentine^ Arnoldus de Villa nova^ Raymond 
Lnlfyj Trithemius Spanheim, Varacelfus^ 
Helmont^ Zwelfer^ BecheVy and Boyle. In 
that part of it called Alchemy, ^/f;v^w^/^ri;^;^ 
Suchteny GafhT^ulconClaveuSybwt particu- 
larly Thilalethay dcfervc the perufal f. 

7. In order to acquire this Art, its Scien^ 
tijical Elements muft be well underftood j 
and its Operations perfonally viewdy and 
manually perform' d\ whence its two Parts, 
of Theory and Tra^iice. 

8 . Its Theory y in gcnerah is acquired by In- 
j^rw/zZ/W/jaxiomatically and dcmonftratively 

delivered in the fynthctical manner, apriori^ 
but analy tically,and apojierioriymparticular. 

9. Its 'F rail ice is acquired by a careful In- 
JiruBion in the proper manual Operations ; 

which, \wgeneraly are limited by place, time, 
the fubjcd and fuitablc means j and in parr 
ticnlary by the manner of performing. 

numerous other Arts, Trades, and mechanical Employments, 
Merchandize itfclF, and all natural Philofopby, being as much, 
and fome ot* them more, concerned therewith \ as we (liall 
ice in the Scwjucl of this Work i and hope more fully to 
manit'eft hereafter. 

4: Gcncr.cap.4.. V, 2X. 

* For the full Hiftory of the Origin and Antiquities of 
this Art, fee Z^t^cr^/i^ii^f^s new Method of Chemiftry, Prolegoi 
pag. i'-^f^. and Borrichim de Ortu Qi* Projr^JJ Cbewit.* 
t Sec chcicvcral Authors in Chemiflrf ^m\c\3\\A^ cVc«^ 
r/zed lyBoffr^aave, lu his netQ Utthod of CbeTnijlT^ ."^ToUi 

r/^r^°.* ^^"^ ^^^^ Pa*t "• %^\^ ^.Q\. wvi ^v- 



PARTI. 

The General THE OR" 
0/ Chemistry. 

S E C T. L 

TheStruSiure ^ Simple, Mix'd, Com 
POUND ^/WAggrega'Te Matter, 



A 



i# A ^ mix^d^ compound^ and aggregate Be 
dies are, accorduig to our Defini 
tion *, the Subjcdt of Cbentijlryj •ti 
neceflary that we here confidet 
their chemical StruSlure. 

2. All natural Bodies are tithcrjimple or com- 
pounded: the ftmple do not conuft of pby/ical 
parts i but the compounded do. The ftmple tire 
Principles^ or the firft material caufes of Mixts \ 
and the compounded^ according to the difference 
of their mixture, are either w/x V, compound or \ 
aggregate : mix^d^ if compofed merely of Prin- J 
ciples •, compound^ if formed of Mixts into any p 
determinable fuigle thing-, and ^^^r^^^ /^, when'' 
B 2 feveral 



J^SccPrelimia.S.hz. 



■i, ^niiii.1, 



The StruSture of Matter. Part I. 

feveral (uch things form any other entire parcel 
of matter, whatfoever it be, 

;3. A Principle is defined, a priori^ that Jn ' 
mix^dmatter, which firft exified\ and a pfteriori^ 
that into which it is atlaji refohed. 

4. Both thefe Definitions are exaft, if we allow 
of a pure^ natural refolution : but as this is not 
eafily obtainable from the Chemiftry of thefe 
days, and fo can hardly be come at by Art \ a 
difference, at prefent, prevails between the pby- 
ftcal and chemical Principles of mix*d Bodies. 

5. Thofe are called ph ftcal Principles whereof 
a Mixt is really compofed j but they are not 
hitherto fettled : for the four Peripatetical Ek- 
7nents^ according to their vulgar acceptation, do 
not deferve this title. And thofe are ufually 
term'd chemical Principles^ into which all Bodies 
are found reducible by the chemical operations 
hitherto known, 

6. Thefe cheviical Principles are called Saltj 
Sulphur and Mercury ; the analogy being taken 
from Minerals : or, Sah^ Oil and Spirit -, to which 
Dr. fFillis adds Phlegm and Earth i but impro- 
perly, fince Phlegm is comprehended under Spi- 
rit : for inflammable Spirits cannot be here meant j 
thefe confiding manifeftly of Water, Oil and Salt, 
as we fhall fee hereafter *. 

7. But as the four Peripatetic Elements^ liowfo- 
ever underftood, cannot have place, if fuppofed 
fpecifically the fame in all Subje(5ts •, fo neither 
can the Chemical Principles : for no-one has hi- 
therto pretended to (hew that thefe Principles are 
fpecifically the fame in all Bodies, But if con- 
fider'd only as to their generical qualities^ thr- 
may be allow'd in Compounds. 



" * Pjrt I. §. 1. J. 9. §.x^ Y^^^ ^^t\V 
•47- & aim faJfarK T 



J- 47. 



§,1. The StruBure of Matter. ^ 

8. We fay particularly in Campomds^ hd 
all the darkneft and difputes about Primipi 
rife from a ncgleft of that real diftin£lion bet 
criginal and fec^ndary Mixts, or Mixis €Q}ij\ 

' of Pmciples and Bodies comfounded of A 
Whilft thefe two are confounded, and fupf 
to be refolved by an operation that h contrai 
Nature, the common cbemical Principles of v 
tableSj animals and minerals are produced, 
prove in reality arlijicial Mixts2 but when C 
pounds are fep^irated by bare refolution, witli 
the leaft combination, their Principles are nan 
Mtxts. 

9, By juftly diftingtiiftiing between Mix!s \ 
Compounds^ without diredlly undertaking to . 
hibit the firft^ Prmiplei of xhc kxOKC^ wC mty i 
fily fettle this affair. Helmont and Becbirm 
attempted it-, the former xz\ivc% Water foiti 
firft and only material Principle of all things j a 
the other, fVater and Earth •, but diftihguiflii 
the Earth into three kinds *. 

ID, The Opinion of Helmont is juft,withrcga] 
to the ultimate Refolubility of things j as may I 
fhewn by aftual Operations as well as by phyl 
eal Realons. But confidering the manner of a< 
tion that obtained after the Creation, we nee 
not go fo far back as to IVater for the PrincipU 
cfMixtsi but ihould rather prefer the Opinioi 
of Becher^ a Man who feems to have been de 
fign-dfor the real Improvement of w^///r^/ Phih 
fophyf. 

II. 



♦ Scc§, i.lij. 

t As great ufc is made of this Author tbrougk the whole 
Courfe of the Work, and maay things founded upon his 
Difcoveries, 'tis fit the Reader (hould know fomething of 
his Chara&er j which the E»ilifh, though he lived for tome 
time* with great efteem as a Chemical Philofopbert ataou^ 

B 3 tViem, 



ne StruEiure of Matter. Parti. 

! 1 1. He makes a capital diftinftion between an 
original Principle^ whereof any thing is form'd by 
tranfmutation, and thcPrinciples whereof any thing 
is mix^d $ mixture of neceffity fuppofing the mat- 
ter to be heterogeneal : for of homogeneal bodies 
there can be no mixture^ but only juxtapofition. 
Becbery therefore, feems rightlv to have affign'd 
the Principles, of MixtSy and Helmont the Origin of 
ihofe Principles. 
'^^ 1 2. But allowing the material production of 
" Mixts from IFater and Earib^ there can be no 
more than one fpecies of mix*d bodies^ if the con- 
junftion be made in equal proportion -, but more 
if the proportion be unequal. However, as we 

can- 



them, fcem at prefcnc to be but little acquainted with. He 
appears to have been a Man of a very uncommon Genius 
and very diffulivc Learning i born as it were with a parti- 
cular artachment to Chemijhy which no Man has ever im- 
proved beyond him, both in Theory and in Prad^ice. His Life, 
Fate, and Circumlhnres are too large a field to enter upon in 
tliis place. Let it iutHce at prcfcnt to fay, that he (lands 
at the head of cL'miJIry, as an Inventor, an Operator ^ and 
' cri^hial Author, to whom this Art is as much indebted, as 
Mathematics to Wallis and Barrow, Mechanics to Hook^ and 
Philolbphy in general to des Cartes, to B(y/e, bi* even to 
Newton, His principal Chemical Writings are the fhyfict^ 
Subterranean Miuera Arenaria, and Concordantia Chemica^ 
b::fides feveral Pieces of leis note, though not of leis utility, 
Dv.Stahl has obliged the Public whh a careful Edition of 
his Fiy/ica Subterranea, and Minera Arenaria^ to which he 
has added an excellent Comment \ in hopes of making an 
author of this value and importance more generally read, 
and ftudicd. The Tnk is, y oh JoachimiBechtri, D.Spirenfis 
Oermani, Sacr,Cdf.Majeft,Confil, (^ Med, Ele£l, Bav, l^hyjicn 
Stibterranea, pfomndam Subterraneorum Genejin e frincipiis 
hue nhne incogmth ojiendens. Opus fine pari: Frimum haBe- 
nus 0» Princir'ps, 6cc . Specimen Becherlanum, Fundamentorum, 
Documentor um, Experimentorum fubjunxit Gcorg. Erneftus 
StahK D. Vrof. FuklOrdin. Hall. Lipliaq, apud Ludovic. Gk- 
ditfchiura. Anno 1703. This tVork^ or an Abridgment of it 
wc may perhaps fliortly take asv O^WXXVW.'H ^1 W^ 
U) the £n^lifh Header. 



cannot well conceive a Mbct to be made i 
proportions and ytt there are many \ 
Compounds in the World % we inuft n 
low of mor^ than onei two, or three ik(&||ir^ 
am perfuaded their number is notgrea^ 
fhall find in the Cburfe of die Wol^c^ 



• An adeauate J^^Hm ts to the bufinefi 6(Mbmmq 
Comfofitkn^ being of the utmoft tmportaiioe in the 111 
and Pra£^ice of Chimifiyt 'tis well worth tttemptictf toc^ , 
it up a little farther! ibai to flrip it of its SchoMie Ibnl 
and render it obvious to ^yay reaEder. The oolj fbnndicli 
I know of proper to oroceea upon in fuch m attempt* i 
that laid down by Bedm i for I We hitherto found tiotUi^ 
iblid to this purpoie» betides v/hat is either done hf him 
or improved nrom him. In particular* his Notions tod Ddo 
trine have received coniiderabk improvements upon tini 
head, as well as feveral others, from DtMnUtl^ho in tlk 
Obfirvationts Hallenfest gives us t tHrhus ^^fir upon the 
Subjeft i and in his Comment upon Btchir'% SMtorrsmM 
Vhyfics^ more particularly explains the whole thing. The 
amount comes to this, (i^.) That from a want of duly con* 
lidering the real differences between Aiix//, T(r;c//, AggrfgAUs 
and Individuals, numberlefs confufions have ari&n as to the 
properties of /tmpU Mixis^ fimfU Texis, and living BoM$s% 
whence in particular that moft necefTary di(tin£kion between 
Mech/tnifm limply confider'd, and Organifmt has been con* 
founded : and not only this, but hence the confufion be- 
tween the immidiatfi and runottt the mat trial and the fcr^ 
mal Principles of phyfical and mechanical idixts and Com^ 
founds, (aj That by the word Mixt is underftood certain 
Corfufcles of fuch a degree of fmallnefti with regard to our 
ienles, as not to be cognizable by them, unlefs in a nume- 
rous parcel 5 each finglc imperceptible corpufcle whereof ftill 
conliiis of feveral leiTer corpufcles, which upon account of 
their different (izes and figures, as alio upon account of a 
greater oriefs quantity of other proportionable moving par- 
ticles a£^ing upon them, have a different degree of mobility. 
(3.) That as the number of Mixt s is but fmall, confined 
perhaps to Silver^ Gold^ and fbme few other ahmoft iimple 
or homogeneous Bodies ; their diflinftion in mod cafes may 
be commodioufly drop^'d, and Compounds fubftituted for them } 
fmce Compounds^ though they do not immediately confifl of 
Hicfmallejl and moH fimfle particles, but really auA &x*\&\t 



He Structure of Matter. Parti. 

•nd 13 : In general therefore we allow, with Becheti 

Hate ^^t^r ^^ Earth for the immediate material Prin^ 

>/« ciples of Mixts ; and with him fuppofe this Earth 

j^, to be of three kinds, viz. (i) vitrtfiable oxfufihle^ 

5. (2) infiammahle in compofition, and (3) liquifiahle 

or fpecifically mercurial in Metals. The Proof 

hereof belonging to the fecond or analytical 

Part*, we referve it for its proper place : in the 

mean time taking this for granted, that there are 

but very few Mixts -, otherwife Compounds would 

be almoft infinite : which it were hard to allow. 

rmrf. 1 4. But as to conftitute any thing there is re- 

Hchnt quired both an efficient and 2iformy as well as mat- 

1. ter \ thefe Caufes of Mixts muft alfo be enquired 

into. The efficient here is of two kinds, principal 

and lefs principal. The principal is the aftual 

Conservation of things, which we improperly call 

Nature \ but properly, and with due reverence, 

the 

of Mixts chemfelves, that differ not only numerically but 
fpecifically i yet have thefe CompounJs fo great a degree of 
tenuity and delicacy, as in their Corfufclts or ImiividHals, to 
be perfectly unperccivcable by the external fenfes, except 
where they are in a numerous colledtion. (4.) That of con* 
fequence both Mixts and Compounds mud become jiggngfites, 
i. e. a very numerous Colle^ion of the Atoms ot Mixts or 
Compounds, before thc)r can be the Objedts of our Scnfes. 
And (f .) That the ditierence therefore between Mixts and 
Texts is very con (idcrable i and to avoid the utmoftconfufion, 
ought to be carefully obferved. For Tex'ts are Aggregates, 
more or lefs {cnliblc even in thclv Individuals ^ and fo form'd, 
by fucha certain application, compofition, co-ordination, or 
conllrudiion, whether fortuitous or deHgn'd, as direds 
them to a farther and more mhU endy which end unleis their 
texture were thus particularly difpofcd and adapted, and no 
otherwife, could not be obtained j whence the Text aftually 
becomes a true and real Inftrument for procuring that End, 
Thus much may ferve to open the Viewi but wc cannot 
now enlarge upon this head. 

* 'Tis hereafter made to appear very ^TobnUc^ t\\i3X M 
W/ contm of thefe Earths, hut pan\cuht\y iVi^ xVCwJl. ' 



$.!• The StruElureofMaUer.l:-} 

^che Ensrg^ or cof^mt ARm of God m fuftkii 

^hb Creatures. ' . ' -= 

^ 15. This makes ufe of die Uf$ prmtifalf wh 
f^is /(?^tf/ iTi^/t'^//) as an inftniment, diac by its eflei 
-applies and joins tx)gecher things difpoied to oo 
bine : which conjunftiont either ablolutely or 1 
fpeftively (by means of contfeuous bodies) itvc 
; ftridtly preferves. Some will have Ftre to be t 
I^ inftrumental caufe of thb Motion i and not wit 
out reafon, if they diftinguifh between the Inftr 
ments of Art and Nature \ and between the mca 
of original Mixture and the fefondary^ which 
■ Compqfition. 

v 1 6, The chemical and pbjfical Operations of At 
and Nature^ differ as to time anfJ place. Naiui 
produces where it finds tht Principles % but th 
Chemift collefts his Principles^ and produce 
where he pleafes : Nature produces when thi 
Principles meet one another, as it were by accl 
; dent ; but the Chemift brings thefe Principles to- 
gether, at the time he wouM produce: In (hort, 
: Nature afts by the means of general motion -, but 
; the Artift applies particular motions to his Sub- 
{ jefts, at a certain time, in a certain place, and 
fo can operate where and when he pleafes -, but 
Nature only whei| and where opportunity fpon- 
taneoufly allows. 
^ 17. It Water alone be acknawledged the firll 
. Principle^ Fire alone may be properly fuppofcd 
, the inftrumental £^fiV;;/ of Art. 

li.Tht Form of Mixts htvAitv genericaU viz.i 
that ofM/x/^r^idelfj or fpecifical^ viz. that of ^ 
Af/x/j fpecifically different. The Generical is the 
combination of Principles numerically and effen- 
tially different, tho* not neceffarily oppofites. 
1 The Specifical^ being unknown to the underftand- 
i ing* depends upon the different figure, number 
and ficuatioj) of the material Principles. THus^ 



\i 



[O The StruSiure of Matter. Part I. 

if, according to Becker^ there were in reality yi»r 
, Principles^ viz. Water ^ and three kinds of £r/r/i>*, 
each capable of changing its fituation, with its 
change of place % as the number four added to fou! 
makes eight, and as eight may be tranfpofec 
forty thoufand three hundred and twenty ways, 
it follows, that four Principles^ thusaltcrM in fi- 
tuation, and tranfpofed, might form forty thou 
fand three hundred and twenty Mixts^ eflentiallj 
differing from each other, 

19, But as, according to what was before ob 
ferved +, the primary Mixts muft of neceflity b 
very few, with regard to fuch a large number 
{o a pojteriori t\\\% hypothefis alfo, offourPrin 
ciplesj is not ftridtly true. We may however ve 
ry well allow it as the moft probable ; and til 
time (hall make flirther difcoveries, retain it fo 
the better explk^nation of chemical Operations an< 
Phaenomena. . 

20. We have already obferved, that a primar 
Mixt refults immediately from Principles \ a ft 
condary one immediately from primary MixU 
and an AsL^c^ate from fever al . mix^d or eve 
fimple matters together^ •, without any regard t 
the quality of the component Atoms, whether i 
number, weight or meafure ||. 

rnipounas 2 1 . We are flirther to obferve of fccondat 
Mixts or Compounds J (wliich vulgarly pafs undc 

th 



cv to he 
vwn from 
ixts. 



* Sec§. I. 1 13. 

+ Sec §. X. j. IX. 

4: Let it be here particularly obferved, that an Aggrega 
may confift of homogeneous particles, provided they urc b 
numerous enough ; which neither a Mixt, nor a\ComfoH: 
can doi for both thcfe require that their component ato 
be heterogeneous. Thus then according to Bether, Bot 
general is divided into PrirjcifUs^ Mixts and Com^oHtiJs 
from a different combination of Mixis ^wdi Cwn\^w* 
ceed Decom founds and even Snper-dfcow^OKnii^ 
H Scc§.i, J. 2. pag. 7. noic* 



J. I. the StruSiun of Matter. 

^e general name of JMDxts) that $i diey .,. 
^priori, fothcydo^oifoftemri. Ttey p 
be known by this property, dut they jpnSjif^ 
Und with eafe feparateinto heterajgeneowiM^ 
I 22. For fuch 1$ the firmnefi otJ^tttr^Mid 
riginal MixtSj that fome efteem it an mfqffm 
inCbemiJlry to feparate their Pruif^s^yii 
judge that thefe can only be made appear by ii 
niencation : but Cimpwnds^ as tm^ are eaq 
^^iffbhedj fo are they readily «/«'/«/ bv Art. ^ 
^ 2 3 . An Aggregate is diltii^ilh'a from an ^ 
)omy in that an ^/^i» isbne numerical indt^ui^ 
but an Aggregate feyeral Jtoms comtnned tc^^^edi 
by contiguity. ' 

24, The perplcxt Dodtrine of Continuity an 
Contiguity ^ may be cleared up by obfendng ttu 
Mixture is nothing buta Conjunction of Principk 
iby Contiguity . For as Principles arc fimple things 
^andnot compounded of others, they mollnecci 
:farily have their proper and determinate figure 
i: (whereon their Form depends) and probably theii 
; determinate fize, or the fmalleft dimenfioni fc 
'that if any thing be taken from their bulk, they 
.; lofe fo much of their Effence.. That, therefore, 
i which is circumfcribed by a certain figure, under 
. •; a certain dimenfion,is a Continuum. But in MixtSy 
-^i Compounds and A^gregates^ a juft number and fi- 
'^ tuation 



;^' * AsbcingCorpufclesofthcutmoftpoffiblephyHcalSQbtili- 

ty, and confequcntly of extreme mobility j fo that they arc very 

; ; apt either to move all together, or clie, by reafon of their par- 

;. ticular figure and connedtion, to adhere mod tcnacioully j 

, whence it becomes extremely difficult indeed to cffcft a 

reparation, or fo much as a durable tranfpofition thereof} 

• • without the admixture of fome other particles. Hence 

'^ there are but fmall hopes of refolving ferfeSi hlixts by any 

I Methods of the vulgar Chemiftry : but for this purpofe rc- 

; courfc muft be had to more powerful Inftrumentsiot viVucH 

more'm due time. See §, i. J, 26, 17, 



1 2 The StruSlure of Matter. Pa 

tuition of Principles makes Contiguity: and^ 

ever afFedbs this, affcdls Continuity alfo. 

when common Sulphur and ^ick-filver^ ii 

compofition of Cw»^<?r, are moved from 

place and feparated, the effcntial Continm 

Cinnabar is deftroyed, by the Deftruftion o 

Contiguity. In fine. Contiguity regards the 

junSiion of Principles ; but Continuity their c 

vation in this ftate^ when join'd. 

ne Regard 2^. Hcnce, for ourdireftion in the Pr 

\^b^praaici of Cbemiftry^ VfQ are carefully toobferveof 

•fCbemiflry SubjcSi^ whcther it be referable to the ck 

^rJtfl^eai ^i^^^y Compounds or merely confiifed matters 

us they are particuhtly what treatment it requires as a i 

CcJmpo««nds gencal ^ or heterogemal^ Aggregate \ without 

•r Aggrc. founding thofe operations, and the cfFefts r 

**^' ing from them, with thofe that belong fp 

cally to Mixts and Compounds. We muft t 

fore be very circumfpeft in the rcfolution ol 

gregates to prevent their coalition in the c 

tion ; as likewife in the refolution of the pai 

. lar Atoms of Compounds and Mixts^ or the 

tion of their Continuity *. And if the confti 

parts prove the moft fimplc, the Subjeft 

be efteemcd a Mixt ; but if lefs fimple, a 

pound. 

Mixts and 26. Having allowed Earth :ind Water fo 

Compounds two material Principles in the generation of il 

Zd/e/oJ^'' it might be cxpcfted wc fliould firft fliew > 

Principles, ^-h^fe Principles may be found in their purity 

as they are very rarely to be obtained in that 

and, by reafon of their extreme minutcnefs, f 

otherwife than in the form of vapour •, and as 

are with difficulty, and not without the mo 

aft analyfis, obtainable from Compounds 

proper that we firft take a view o( Mix* 



* See $. I. 5, 24.; 



|ji. The StruBure of Maner. 

Ctmpoundst and afterwards cmniiie in wUl 
ckcm thefe PrincifUs lie the loofeft. 

^^ 27. Thefe Prineifles are more fimpljr tod 
inarilymix*dinAfiif^rtf/f& idiascegcmiineA 
su-e chiefly found in the mineral iQiigidom;. 
thefe Mixts the firft are Waters \ or very fii 
exceeding moveable, and thence fluid Bodies. 
Heaters are etcher (i) thofe ofRimn i wi 
-: are the groflefl:, and greatly impr^iDS 
with Earth. (2) Of Springs^ which arc m 
or lefs pure, as they are drank nearer or 1 
ther from the Fountain-head; or as tiieyi 
over flones or foft marihy Ground (3) 
fFells I which if foon drawn, are preferable 
' thofe of Springs. (4) Of Cifterm ; which, 
' frefli, are very thin ; but twy corrupt wii 
'* keeping, and become almoft like ftagnai 
J Waters ; which are unwholefome, putrid ai 
L difpofcd for a new refolution. (5) Of Dews 
; thofe of Ma^ being very fubtile, and near c 
elementary Water. (6) Of Rains 5 which ar 
i lefs fubtile than thofe of Dews, tho* they ap 
^ preach the neareft to them ; but more or led 
as they follow upon grofs or lighter clouds, 

(7) Of Smw\ which refemble thofe of Rain. 

(8) Mineral IFaters^ which are manifeftly 
compounded : whereto may be added the Me- 
talline Waters of Mines, and thofe of the 
whole Ocean. 

28. £^r//^i come next; and are a body, folid^ 
of it fclf, the moft fix'd, and the foundation of ^ 
Rxednefs in Aggte^^ates and Atoms. And as, by the 
Rgurc of thefe Atoms, earths are difpofed to 
:ombiue into larger heterogeneous Aggregates^ 
«^u:h interfperfed vacuities, or into homogeneous 
:>nes ; hence ariks the folidih of an Ame%a.\t ^^ 
PPos'dtoJmJity. ^9. 



The StruEiure of Matter. Part L | 

,^ 29, Thefe primitive Earths^ ho more than! 
^ Waters, can fcarce be found pure of themfelves, 
and uncompounded j much lefs folid, and in their | 
own form ; but are conftantly fufpended in Wa- .1 
ters, tho* in one more than another. They are ! 
alfo'othcrwife mix'd. Thus we every where find • 
bodies'that greatly partake of the j?r/? vitrefcible : 
pellucid Earth ; fuch as Gravel, Sand, Cryftal, ; 
Diamonds, and all the uncoloured Gems 5 as ■ 
the coloured ones greatly partake of the fe- |j 
cond*. \ 

•« 30. Of thefe two generical Principles^ viz. fp^a- i 
»^ ter and Earthy originally mix'd together, but \ 
\d particularly the firji and fecond Earthy proceed ' 
Salts and Oils ; as from the commixture of the 
Earths among one another proceed various kinds 
of coloured Earths. The third Earth is fpecifi- 
cally appropriated to Metals -f. But from the 
intimate conjunction of this ahd the firfi Earth, 
with a fuitable quantity of Water, proceeds a dry 
volatile S alt ^ the founcfation ofJrfenic. 

, 31. Now as the more fimple, earthy Bodies j 
all or terr eft rial Solids^ whether they be infipid or 
fapid Mixis^ arife from th^frft mdfecond Earth ; 
fo if the third be added, other Concretes are 
form'd. Thus wherever we meet with the com- 
mon opake, dufty Earthy metallic matter is there 
aftually lodgM i and requires nothing but the ad* 
dition of the third Earthy or the mercurial Prin- 
ciplcy to form it into a perfect Met aL If there- 
fore the firft and fecond Earths^ in their purity, 
be mix'd in due proportion, and many Atoms of 
this kind be join'd by contiguity -, the Aggregate 
called a Ruby^ may be thence produced. But '^ 
this matter fhouM be taken from its mine, wJ 



^Scc§.t.yiy ^ X^^^ 



TheStruSiure of Matter. Part I. 

If to this5//«wi^« be added that mixture of 
the firfi Earth and Water ^ or there be fome 
error in the proportion of the mixture, the ' 
produce is Sulphur \ but if any Metal that is : 
too fluid, or common ^Hck-filver^ be mix'd j 
along with them, it will then ho. Cinnabar. \ 

If the third Earth be joined to this univerfal 
jicid^ the Concrete of r^;;/w(?» Salt is produced; 
that gives the foundation to Arfenic *. 

If the fecond Earth be joined with it propor- 
tionably, or in fmall quantity, thence arifes 
Nitre or Salt-petre. 

Theie5^//xare neither yZ^Z/W nov Jix*d in their 
own proper form •, but exceedingly volatile : 
they are however rendered fx^d and ponderable 
by the adhefion of various compound Earths *, 
and volatile by the conjundtion of various com- 
pound oily Bodies : but they are never more 
volatile than when join*d with Water alone. 

Their cryfialline Confiftence depends^ upon the 
groflcr Earths : but more of this fubjcft in our 
experimental DoHrine of Salts f. 

34. We lately obferv'd i. that various ^^r/A)! 
Concretes arife trom the mixture of two Earths. 
There are feveral Compofitions hereof, tho' fcarce 
remarkably diftinguifli'd in common ufe. If the 
frjl and third primitive Earths^ without Water, 
adhere to any Metal, thence ^riks Jrfenic \\ \ ^ 
volatile, uninflammable body, that gives white- 
nelb to other metals in fufion •, and proves vio- 
lently corrofive and poijbnous to animals. 

From the third Earthy adhering to any me- 
talline body, proceeds ^ick-filver or Mer- 
cury. 

Fi 



* See §. I. f.30. + See PuttW, ^ \, V.^ 
* Scc§. i. ^. 31. II Scc^.^u. ^V*. 



§* I *, ne BtruBure ofMatter\ 

From the ficond and firfi Earths^ wi 
fmall proportion of Water, that is» frOTr 
umverfal ^cid and the ficand Earlby c( 
Sulphur vivum *. 

From Sulphur and ^hhftlver joinM C 
thcr proceeds Cinnabar. But if the fi 
Earib alfo abounds in this Concrete, it th* 
becomes Rtalgar^ the Sandaracba Grmot 
or miiviy red Arfenk "f. 

35. The 5tf//i commonly known, arc form*( 
ibi fluid Sail ^ and various terreftrial and meta 
Mix ts : thus the fluid SaUy or univerfal Acid^ i 



f It the toundatioa here gone upon tn alTigtiing the Mi 
tuf* or Comf^Jtthn of all the nmural B§di€h a frmh w< 
Ari£lly juft and perfect, a greater degree of knowledge wt 
not neeeffary in this a^tri for we Ihould then judge ai 
talk as familiarly of the real manner wherein Nitmrr produc 
Podicsi as if we had been alTtiltfigin their tormation, or fee 
the Frinciphs mix and concrete together 1 and hence be en 
abled to aflign the proportion of each Ingredient employVi 
as readily as we do in our .own manner of producing sirtt 
jicM Bpdiis. Thus for inftance w^lhould fay of natural Dia^ 
mondst and of natural G^M« that they confifled of fuch and 
fuch proportions of tht Jirfl» ficond^ and third £/irrA/,withai 
much exadnefi as we now (ay of Bnndt that it is an artifi^ 
ml Comfo$mdt or Aggrtgs^te^ of Meal, Yeaft, Salt^and Water., 
in iiich and fuch proportions. And farther than this we 
need not defire to go in the buiinefs of Comfofition^ for the 
purpo(es of Chemtflfy and natural Phllofofhy. The misfor- 
tune is, thele FrincifUs are not ftri^ly jtift, nor hitherto 
prfeStiy difined \ though thev have as much probability on 
their fide as can well be wiih'd for : thanks to Btchtr^ who has 
thus enabled us to talk at leaft intelligibly and icientitically, 
if not with the utmoftprecifion, in this otherwilc dark and 
myftertous ai&ir of nature. For hh Principles are not ri£^ions, 
or creatures of Brain» but have io much evidence for 
their real exiftence, as being difcover'd i pojleripri by Expt- 
fimental F/i^j, and fblve phasnomena fb well, tfiat 'tis very 
difficult not to admit them for true; as we fliall abundantly 
&c in the Sequel. 



The StruSture of Matter. Part I, 

, a chalh^ Ear lb makes ^///w ; the fame Acid^ with 
the tUrd or mercurial Earthy makes common 
Sea-fall \ which, with a mixture of a moift and 
rocky, or clay-earth makes Sal-Gem * 

If this univerfal A':id diffolves a vilrifiable 
Earthy thence comes Borax •, and if it diffojves 
a Metal, thence comes ^i/m/. 

Lime is rather an artificial Concrete ; the Salt 
concentrated in it being produced by Calcina^ 
tion. 

36. We have already obfervcd, that Lead^ 
Tifi^ frofij Copper and Mercury are compound Bo- 
dies f. I'o thcfc may well be added thofe im- 

^, mature Metalsj Bifmuthj Zinkj yellow Marcaftte^ 
i Antimony and Regidus of Antimony: for thefe are 
' really metallic bodies, only intermixed, infefted 
and adulterated with too large a quantity of a 
certain arfenical Earth \ but Antimony, by an 
over-proportion of common inflammable Suiphur% 
whence they all prove volatile and brittle. 

37. In fine, mneral Compounds arc reduced un- 
'* dcr thefe five ClaflTes; viz. (i.) Earthy Bodies^ 
\t. more properly fo called •, and thofe either vi- 

trefcible, or opake,. fufible and chalky, (2.) Im^ 
purer metallic Bodiesj as thofe above mention- 
ed t, and i^ick'filver. (3.) Sulphureous Bodies^ 
eompofed of Bitumen 5 either with or without a 
large proportion of the univerfal Acid. (4.) Vo- 
latile^ Arfenical^ or corrofive uninflammable and 
dry Bodies. And (5.) Humid^ corrofive and falinf 
ones. 

« 38. We have hitherto inquired into the fuh- 
I alternate Species of mix^d and compound Alinerals : 

w< 

I I y ■ ' ■ ■ II I mm %i 

* Sec thcHe^ of Mineral Saks, ?«t\V» \\. ^A— \V 1 
f 5be ^./. f. 32,54. 



§.!• The StruSiure o/Matter. 

we next proceed to VegetMes i wludi for t 
matter confift of Mfir^tf/f, inwe or Ids alb 
Thus they have their Ufei as k wcfc, from \ 
ter \ and with this recehre a certain tnir^i t 
containing a bituminous EtU u^ & fubcile v 
fiable Earth. But fome, inftead of a tntrous h 
attraft a more ^rij one^ carrying. alon^witl|. 
cakariousj earthy Subjtance \ whence in a « 
table Compound the Mtxts that compofe it 
more eafily feparated and denmnftrated. 

39. Next we fl^all briefly confider the path 
Vegetables wherein thefe Mixts are found, more 
lefs join'd together ; that is, the partkular A 
je^s of Cbemijlry^ as taken from the vtgeta 
Kingdojn. 

Vegetables therefore arc divided into fmalb 
as f/^r/^i i and larger, as Shrubs and 7r« 
The parrs common to them both, are, af/^ 
or T'runk^ Leaves^ Flowers^ Fruit and Rqoti 
in all which there is a great analogy: thustF. 
T'riink contains much Earth, Salt, Rofin o 
Pitch, and but little Water •, all of them grofs 
The Leaves hold the fame •# only in thefe the 
are more fubtile : and the Seed^ which is thi 
genuine Fruity abounds in Oil and a very fub 
tile Earth. By means of this Divifion we 
may learn what to expedt, (i,) From vegetable 
Juices i which are either expreffed from the 
Leaves^ or drawn out of the Trunks before 
they had come into the Leaves. (2.) From 
IVoods i as thefe are pieces of the Trunk, (3.) 
From Roots \ as thefe are the fubterraneous 
part of the Trunk. (4.) From Seeds \ as thefe 
contain the moft fubtile part of the Vegetable ; 
and being diftinguifli'd from what is commonly 
called the Fruit, as the Foetus is from the Se^ 
cundines^ and the Liquors they contain* (5.^ Av\d 
C 2 UftW^ 



The StruSiure of Matter. PartL 

laftly, from Barks \ which are the more red- 
nous part of the Trunk. 

I 40. Rofim and Gums are preternatural and vi- 
olent produftions of Vegetables ; being as it 
were the elementary part thereof intercepted in 
its motion. 

Wine^ Tartar J and Suj^r (which is a fpecies 
of Tartar) are rather artificial Preparations, by 
combination : but Manna and Honey are ob- 
tained by both thefe ways ; tho* Manna rather 
by the former, and Honey rather by the lat- 
ter. 

41. Animals appear to differ widely from Mi- 
^ nerals\ all t\it\v Atoms being certain Compounds of 
► various kinds of Mixts^ varioufly altered, and 
combined into a fpecijic Aggregate. But the 
fuppofed chemical Principles are here found loofer 
than in other bodies, from the neceffary attenua- 
tion the Elements undergo in them •, the Prepara- 
tions they afford being very volatile, and reduci- 
ble to the two moft aftive Principles^ viz. the 
fecond and thirds under the form of 0/7 and vola- 
tile Salt : the terrejtrial heavy part fubfiding to 
, the bottom, and proving of a calcariousj rather 
than a viirefcible nature ; from a certain faline 
fubftance that is intimately burnt into it. 
,/. 42. We are to obferve that fome of thefe 
^'' Principles are found more copioufly in fome parts 
of Animals than in others. They are the molt 
'' grofs in the coarfe and folid parts, if taken in 
that form •, but thinner and more abundant in 
the finer •, which then contain the greateft quan- 
tity of all, when they are refolved by putrefac- 
tion, and treated by a combining operation. 

43. The groflfer^ parts are, {i.^ Bones^ Hor 
and Hoofs. (2.) The nexi \ii oi^« " 



and the membranous Part 
Fat and the Humours of 
-;.| \ taken in fubftance, and tn 
degree of Fire, yield moi 
pure matter, as they are m 
folid. 



SECT 

The Object ^Chem 
under the Notion t 
or Resolution. 

I. XTff T ^ obferved in 

Wf that the 0^;>5 

^ W JlruSlion or Ri 

tton or Combination. By De 

Mixts and Compounds are r< 

ftituent partSy and AggregaU 

parti. The firft Operation^ 

may be called Refolutmh a 

tion. 

2. The ProdMoIions of Dii 



DeJiruEiion or Refolution. Part !• 

and obtain'd by Caicination^ \is term'd a Calx ': 
tho* dry Powders^ made by Corrofion in the cold, 
and precipitated out of int Menjlruum^ are a,lfo 
called Calces ; as that prepared by fufion, with 
corrofives, or by caementation, is called a Cro- 
cus. The metallic Sediment, obtained by the 
ftamping and wafhing of Ores, is called in the 
language of Metallurgifts, Slud *• And thus 
much for bodies of -^ /olid form. 

3, In a fluid one comes (i.)The liquif action of 

p. Salts in common Water ; but if the liquifaftion 
proceed gradually, by the afliftance of the moiji 
Airy it makes Oils per deliquium^ as they are cal- 
led ; in all which fome certain portion of the 
Sail is djflblved into its fmalleft and almoft in- 
divifiblc parts, by the means of Heater. (2.) The 
fame thing happens in the SoL^ions made by A- 
quaforlisj or corrofive, faline Spirits; whence 
Metals are difTolved into fuchfm.ill 'particles, as 
to become entirely pellucid with JP^ater. And,('?.) 
li\\tfiifion of metals may be rcckonM of this cLifs j 
asdiffolving them into their fmalleft parts •, fo that 
as long as they remain in this ftate, the minuteft 
portion one pleafcs, or even the leaft particle of 
their A^gregate^ may be feparated from them ; 
efpccially by Granulation. 

,j, 4, As Aggregates ?iVt reduced to their fmalleft 
parts, without regard to their quality ; fo are 
Compounds into their conftituent parts, which, 
as fuch, are neceflfarily heterogeneous f. Now 
Compounds^ with refpeft to their general ^alities 
are either, (i.) Fluids (2.) Solid^ (3.) Participating 
of bothy (4.) Made up of fix" d Matter alone, or 
(5.) offlx\l and volatile Matter together. 



* Or waOi'd Ores in the German Unga^gis> Alt S«' 
f Sce§.t. 5. ,2. note. §.1.^.19. 



» !: 



5,2. J^ejfrucfiun or J 

. 5, Tht fluid Compcunds 
j three parts \ viz. Water ^ 01 
Spirit is made by a conjiii 
two. Of thefe, Water is t 
. . the mod volatile^ and Spirit 
. . ; The Parts offx*d Sdid, 

:■ I mix^d and compound^ as a 
i :; Of the 5'^//V/i COP) ofed 

\; \ matters there are two CU 
J f-j , confift oi folid and fluids < 
Parts. 

Of the /ry? C/^/j are re 

getables ; as alfo /immals \ 

■ I ThemoreyZ>//V/and /^xV 

' I tfefcible Earths^ and ^xV . 

In another refpeft, fc 

made up of a rrrofib^e ai 

whence arife c I'U humid^ c 

Amalgam'^ Ext a^s, Crocu. 

lefs comfihl part^ in the c 

Powder^ ov Calx \ but wi 

his^ the Grain of the Cup: 

There are alfo Co?n^.cu 

inflammable and uninflavirn. 

are referable to the volatu 

I Bodies unpapable of m 

■| founded or iumblt^d tosetl 






■t 



J1 



DeJiruEiion or Refolution. Part I. 

larger ; and in the fecond the like is done, with 
the addition of a new fpecific quality. 

7. Thus, for example, Bodies difperfed and 
inherent in a Fluid, if they are volatile, as ani- 
mal and all urinous Salts^ may be collefted by 
Sublimation ; but if they are nxM, by Coagula- 
tion \ which if it be violent gives C^tf^«&//i/, and 
a gentle; Cryftals of Salt. 

Bodies divided into Atoms^ or very fmall 
parts at leaft^ are reduced by Fufton^ if they 
be fufible\ from whence the Reduction of Me- 
tals : but if fui generis^ they are joined toge- 
ther by the addition, or new foftening, of their 
Cement. 

Particles confufedly difperfed between any Ag- 
gregate are collected alio by Extra£lion i thus 
Sulphur is obtained from the Pyrites^ Rofins 
from Vegetables^ Mercury from Metals and Mi- 
nerals *, and Salts from Earths and hetero* 
geneous mafles. And all thb is done by the 
method of ColleSlion. 

8, The Metho.^ of Union combines together 
parts that differ fiom each other in number^figure 
or even in mixture ; and thus produces fome 
new Concrete^ differing fpecifically from the parts 
that make it ; and this, by the known chemi- 
cal operations, proves commonly a Compound^ 
and but feldom i Mixt. 

/ 9. But whether they be Mixts or Compunds 
^^that are produced by this, operation, they are 
cither naturaU perfeSlly Me natural^ or merely 
artificial Bodies. 

Vitriols prepared by Art refemble the natu- 
ral^ and anfwer in all refpedls to the mineral 
Vitriols \ fo the Mercuries prepared by Addv 

ttof 



/5fc5upp;ciu.$,i.^,,,,^^, 



\.2. DeftruSiim or R^oliitim: 

tion^ differ from the common only at tl 
are gained from a m$ri noble^ or a m$re %« 
Metal * I whence th^ coagulate with m 
or lefs expedition, ana return to a niietall 
fixednefs. So the artificial Chmabar is in 
things like the natural^ and peHedly undift 
guifhable from it. Thus we procure Arfi, 
from Luna cornua^ as alfo from Lead : A 
thus Regulus of Antimony trotted miSxCinnabi 
drinks in the Sulphur it contains, and is then 
regenerated into trtM /httimony again. 

Inflammable Spirits^ dulcified /aline miner 
ones J all Salts proceeding from the combin 
tion oiAcid and Alkali^ all fix^d and all vol 
tile SaltSj all ff^nes^ Vinegars^ empyrenmat 
Oilsy the volatile Salts of Plants^ and all 5m^ 
are artificial Compounds : and thefe are th 
more compounded ProduSiions. 

10. The more Jimple Produ^ions are the na 
uraiones exhibited by Art in a Jborter time\ ai 
lold from the Mercuries of Bodies^ fixM eithei 
)y Digeftion or metallic Fufion f. 

The operation is more artificial when the 
mortfimple Subjects are alter'd in their F<?riw, 
without any obfervable addition or diminu- 
tion : which is the cafe in the vitrification of 
the inflpid Earths of Vegetables^ common and 
metalline Clays, ^c. whence Glafs of different 
kinds is produced. And the like may be faid 
of Fixation. 

11. We have already obfcrved, || that De- 
huSlion or Refolut ion rcfolvesMixts and Compounds 
nto their conftituent^ but Aggregates into their 

♦ SccSuppJcm. J.J, f,i,cJ»r. tSwSupp\cm.V*'^-^»^» 






DeftruSiim or Refolution. Part !• 

integrant parts. The latter depends upon and 
refts in a bare dijfolution of Continuity^ without ' 
any regard to the bomogeneiety or heterogeneiety of 
the feparated parts: but the former is efFefted I 
by a ncccffiry feparaticn of the heterogeneous parts 
diffolved by the other, 
c- 12. The DeJlruSlion of an Aggregate happens 
[«- either in a folid or a fluid form \ the firft being 
» a refolution into fmall part s^ and commonly called 
Comminution % the other a Refolution into almoft 
the fmalleji integrant parts J and called Solution^, 

.13. Comminution differs according to its vari- 
ous degrees of finenefs, and may be efFedked in 
Metals feveral ways ; but principally by Granu- 
lation f ; which is the dijfolution of any metal- 
line Body into many little round parts or grains. 
And this is effefted varioufly in the more fluxile 
Metals, T//7 and Lead^ {\.)hy firft melting them, 
then (as thefe run without ignition) pouring them 
into a wooden difli, that has been rubbed on the 
infide with Wax, Chalk, Lime, or Brick-duft ; 
and obferving the moment they begin to fet, 
then toffing them a little into the Air, after the 
manner that Corn is winnowM. (2.) By fhak- 
ing the melted Metal in a wooden Box, that 
is firft well rubbed on the infide with fome dry 
Powder. (3.) By running it thro* a fine Iron 
Colander, or Ladle punched full of fmall holes •, 
fire being laid upon the metal to make it run, 
and fo full into water fet underneath to receive it. 
And, (4.) by a particular little Engine, com- 
monly called the Shot-milK 

But the harder Metals^ becaufe they foon 
let or grow cold after melting, are granulated 
^Kone'ejfufion. For this purpofe melted C(?/)- 

pe 

* Sec §.2. f.3. 
fSee$.z.^.z,Ui, 



J§.2. DeftruBion or Rtfolution. \ 

i 23. Hitheito we have treated of 2)i;^l&^^ 

; integrant Parts ; we next proceed to the Re/k 

Uion or Separation (f Compounds into their m^ 

)tuent parts *> and pro[X)fe to confider them wi 

i regard to their generical Qualities t or as tb 

i confift,( 1 entireh of FlnidSfX^.) entirely ofSoUc 

'i (3.) of Fluids ana Solids \ whether Ixoh be vol 

'}, tile, volatile and fix*d, or both fix'd : but moi 

'l particularly as they confift of corrofihti or inem 

I roftble farts ; and tnis abfolutely or refpeftively 

t offuftble or not fu/tble parts 1 of two or more pan 

j that refufe to mix \ and laftly, oi parts thai a 

^ here loofeh or chfely +• 

> 24. All F/2//V/J that retain their fluid form in thi 

'I cold, or in a fmall degree of warmth, are vola^ 

5 tile i but in different degrees. 

J The moji volatile are inflammable Spirits % an 

^ artificial Compound arifing from a cohibinadon 

I ofPhlegnh and a moft fubtile Oil *• 

I The next in degree of volatility arc the diftilPd 

I 0/7j (?/ Vegetables. 

\ In the third place come /)«r^ Heaters or 

After thefe, comt faline^ mineral Spirits* 
And laftly, faline mineral Oilsj or r^w«f* 

.'. trated Spirits. 

25. For the Separation of thefe, there is re-^. 
quired a particular kind of Diftillation^ with a 
checked degree of heat, and called by the name 
of Re^ification. 

And here it is to be remarked, that Spirits 
rife with a tepid heat, or one a little greater 
than the hand can well endure •, that OHs rife 
with the fame, or rather along with Waters ; 
which require a heat next to that of boiling 

water ; 



DeftruEiion or Refolution. Part L 

water; thzt faline mineral Spirits^ asalfo^m^^ 
gar J require tht beat of Afhes or S and i but 
Jaline Oils^ the Capella vacua *, or heat with? 
OMt ?siy gxok fnediutn. 



fri 



26. This Re£lificatton is promoted by the height ■ 
!>/ /i>^ vejfeh employed: Thus perfedtly to Separate 
the phlegm from inflammable Spirits j the /^ //^y? 
w^/j are required ; thofe of a ;»/V/i/(? height for 
0/7j and Waters \ low ones for /i/i;;^ iS/^/W/j ; and 
fuch as are horizontal for faline Oils. 

27. The whole Defign of Re£lification is per- 

f eftly to feparate the more volatile from the more * 
fix'd Fluids. 

28. Bodies compounded of a Fluid and a Solid^ 
are feparated with two aifferent Views; or in 
order to obtain their fluid or jure folid parts. 
Diftillation is of ufe in the firft cafe ; wh?reby a ' 
fluid is, with a proportionable heat, rarified into | 
vapour, that again condenfes into a fluid. Fluids 
therefore are the SuhjeSl of this Operation ; as JVa- 
ter^ Oilj Mercury and bodies compounded of thefe. 
Hence all necent and even dry Vegetables and Jni- 
malsy for their Oil ; as likewife all faline Minerals 
that aftually contain Quick-filver, may be com- 
mitted to Diftillation: the degrees of Fire, 
fcf f . being regulated according to the Rules above 
laid down f . 

29. But where the Solids and Fluids cohere 
loofely together; tht fluid part is feparated from 
the folid by Decantation, Evaporation^ or 'Fil- 
tration. 

Becantation is the l^are effufion of a tranfpa- 
rent Liquor froin the Sediment that lies at tht 
Bottom. 

Wh 






h-i 



\2^ PeftruBim orRefilutim. 

When Che /7«u/chat Boats above the S 
ment is merely aqueous, and oonfequcsntljr 

\ tally volatile» it may be feparated by ball 

\\ vapcration, 
i] Solids and Fluids are verv well feparated 

'4 the Filtre i which may either coofift of LA 

I ^' or Woollen^clothy made into a corneal ba 

[\ or of Paper, proper for this purpofe, anddi 

^. folded. 

I But when Mercury is to be fiparated fi\ 

I the Metals amalgamated tberemtb^ it muft > 

I expreffed thro* Leather \ the pores where 

\ Mercury will readily pafe, and leave the M 

'^ tal^ tho'ever fo much attenuated, behind 

;i 30. Bodies compofed of two Solids are alfo of /te 
J kinds •, for one of them may be volatile and th 
I other fix'd ; or they may both be fii^d. Tten 
I may likewife be a third kind^ compounded oJF twi 
"^ Solids \ and both volatile. But fince the 5^- 
;| ration Qi thefe requires the fame operations as the 
\fcparationof fix^d bodies \ we Ihall comprehend 
\ all under two principal kinds. 
\ 31. The Separation of the fix* d and volatile parts . 
I of Bodies, is attempted by Sublimation ; the Com- * 
ii pound being reduced fmall, and put into a Cu- 
I curbit with a wide mouth, fitted with a blind 
j head, and expofed to a proportionable degree of 
j^ Fire 5 which is to be continued whilft any vapour 
;v. afcends: as for example, in the Preparation or 
!'] Purification of Cinnabar. 

p If this volatile part be ufelefs, the Separa- ^ 

! J iion may be made by bare Calcination^ which ^^ 
!■; is dry Evaporation '% as in calcining Antimony^ 
i Vitriol, &c. 

1 It may be likewife effefted by Deflagration^ 

:i which is an operation of kin to Calcination ; and 
?■ is tithcr ftmpte or compound : /mpld when the 



DeftruSiion or Re/olution. Part 1. 1 

volatile part eafily takes flame of itfelf'; and 
compound when it requires the addition of Ni- 
tre: which latter is called by the name of ' 
Detonation. I 

Difflationy or the Blaft^ is an Operation pe^ t 
culiar to Metals ; by means whereof the arfc- ■' 
nical and imperfeft metalline or rejguline parts, 
as alfo Marcafite, Zink, and the like volatile 
kinds of Minerals, are evaporated and driven 
off by the aftion of the open flame and blajl 
of the Bellows. \ 

•Tis obfervable that this Operation may be 
performed in miniature, or in the way of Af- 
fay, by placing a particle of the metalhne mat- 
ter in a little cavity of a Charcoal, and play- 
ing the flame of a lamp upon it, with a Blow- 
pipe ; but larger quantities, even to the weight 
of fome hundred pounds, are blown off the 
^ejl ; as they vulgarly call it *. 

We are farther to obferve of this Operation^ 
that a greater Tield of Metal is obtained, by 
Committing a confiderable quantity of fome 
other fimilar and perfcd: Metal to be teftcd 
along with the Subjeft ; thus a proportion of 
Silver J Copper or Lead^ would prove as a Matrix 
to it, and receive and drink in the other Metal 
as it comes to be gradually heated and fufed. 

Laftly, a due regard muft here be had to the 
Regimen of the Fire ; that it may operate 
ftronger or milder according to the nature of 
the Subjcft, and the additional Metal : and in 
the fame manner the Blaft alfo muft be regu- 
lated, left wha! is good (hould be blown away 
with what is infigniflcant* 

32. Hence we learn by what Operation either 
the volatile or fix^d part of a Compound may ! 

o 

^ Sfc Part II. J. +. 5.41, ^ J, 8^c. 



that abound with Iron 
iion to the Ores of the % 
them of Arfenic, Antin 

33. Compounds that i 
fix\l^ are diJ[olv*d accOi 
all which however may 
fion^ So'ulioK'j and Precij 
have parts that are 1 
ftruums, or may be dif 
ftances •, that is, they ( 
an incorroftbte part. 

34. The particular 
ftrigle Bodj^ is either cc 
dry ; but in both cafes 

The cold a>:d hum 
tton \ and the Liquo> 
performed, zMenJlr 

35. Thdt Menjiruu. 
of various kinds •, but 
ly'fatinej capable cfrec 



DeJiruEiion or Refolutibn. Part 1 

Solution is effcfted in this manner. The 
. Menjlruum being a coHedtion of an indefinite 

number of very fmall particles in aftual mo- 
. tion, and poured upon a fubtile earthy matter, 

or an indefinite number of very moveable par- 
. tides-, thoMenffrKumy or entire parcel of moving 

particles, firft puts into motion the mod move* 
. able corpufdes next to itfdf, and afterwards 

fuftains and moves them about along with 

itfelf, fo long as itfelf continues in morion. 

36. The a/lually faline Me):ftruv.ms are of two 
gemrical Claffcs^ viz. Add and Alkaline \ which, 
whilft they iibfolutcly remain in their own ftate, 
have not the fame fpccifiqal effcds or powers up- 
on the fame Subject, with regard to the fame 
part thereof 

37. Acid Menjlruums are all thofc that aft up- 
on terreftrial or met.Jlic Subjctis, fo as totally to 
abforb them. TJiefc are principally the follow- 
ing, ( I .) 'The Spirits cf yitriol^ Kttre^ and common 
Salt\ and Menjlruums compofed by a mixture of 
ihefe. (2.) The Juices of unripe or aujlere Vege- 
tables \ as the Juice of Lemmons, artificial Vine- 
gars, fcrr. (3.) The Spirits diftill^d with a naked 
fire from dry Vegeiahles \ to which may be added 
the Spirits of Breads Honey ^ Manm and Sugar. 
(4.) The Spirit cfAnts\ or the Water in which 
they have been put alive and ftirr'd about till 
they died. 

But neither the Juices of unripe Vegetables 
nor Vinegars make a total Solution of Metals^ 
but rather take up fome part of their weight, 
and fome part of their eflence ; as appears in 
. the preparation of the Sugars of Steel and Lead \ 
where the greateft part of the Metal remair 
Ht the bottom in the form of a Po-^jdcr^ t^ 
ivill not diffblvQ by repeated a^u^\ 



§.2t DeftruBion or Refolutiofi. 3 

38. Thefe Acid Menftruums differ fpecifically 
as well in their Effefts as fh^ir Subjefts. Thus 
Spirit of Nitre diffolves all the Metals but GoKl 5 
and Spirit of Salt will not diflblve Silver : but a 
mixture of both diffolves Gold; which neither 
cou'd do alone. So Spirit of Vitriol niakes Vi- 
triol from Iron i b'lt Spirit of Salt a very diffc* 
rent thing. Spirit of Salt turns with Quick-filver 
into a folid cryftalline Subflance ; but Spirit of 
Nitre diffolves it fluid. 

39. Alkaline Menftruums are thofe which enters, 
and abforb fulphurcous and oleaginous Subjefts : ''*' 
and thefe are either Jix^d or volatile. The fx^d 
are made by the incineration of Vegetables 5 and 
the volatile oy the putrefadtion of the fame, or of 
Animals : but both are the produftions of Art. 

Thefx*dj or alkaline Oils per deliquium^ to- 
tally diflblve inflammable mineral Sulphurs ; 
and being acuated and coagulated therewith,- 
they obtain a new power of corroding Metals 
in fufion. 

Volatile Alkalies alfo will, in the fame man- 
ners, dilfolve Sulphur and Rofins ; whence the 
Tinfture of Sulphur, made with the Spirit of 
Sal-ammoniac, will come over volatile in dif- 
tillation : and thus, by a particular manner of 
conducing the Operation, the Spiritus Salts 
Ammoniaci caryophyllalus may be obtained 
blood-red 5 fo likcwife may all the famous 
kinds of Sal volatile oleofunij of which Sylvius 
was the original author. 

The particular Strufture of Copper admits 
of both thefe Alkalies j fo as to be thoroughly 
dilTolved thereby. 

40. Of kin to the cold humid Solution^ is 
that cold fluid metallic one called Ar/ialgamation ; 

when 



DeftrnBiion or Refolution^ Part L 

when the Mercury is poured cold to the thinly 
plated or finely gninulated Metal •, and ground 
therewith in aglafs, ftone or earthen veflel : tho*^ 
if the Matter to be amalgamated is firft" heated, 
and the trituration perform'd in a hot Mortar^ 
the operation will be much fooner finif|i*d *. 

Regiilus of Antimon'j^ mix'd wHb Silver or 
Copper^ has this /'^a///tfr, that if it be too dufty 
it will not ainalgamate with the Mercury : but 
the difficulty is inftantly removed by the addi- 
tion of common Water, which takes the pow- 
der to itfelf. 

41, The fikile oleaginous Menjlruums are ei- 
ther diJliWd Oils, thin Rofms^ or inflammable 
Sprite. 

Dflill'd Oils abforb and diffolve all Rofins, 
and inflammable mineral Sulphur. 

^bin Rofins ferve to malax and foften die 
thicker and harder. 

Inflammnhle Spirits, being very fubtile Oils 

united with Phlegm, foften and imbibe the 

grofler Oils, and refinoufly unftuous bodies ; 

which Operation, in particular, is called Ex- 

• traction. 

42. It muft be here obferved of the Emulftve 
Seeds, and the Talks of Eggs^ that they are, as it 
were, agrofs kind oi inflammable Spirit, confid- 
ing of Oil and Water, united bv the interpofi- 
tion of a fubtile terreftrial Subftance ; whence 
they have the like efFed as fuch Spirit, in diflblv- 
ing Oils and Rofins, and carrying them even bet- 
ter than that, into aqueous liquors. 

The fame is to be underft:ood of Sugar^ 

which being dry*d and made into an Elaofac^ 

cbarum 



• SceJ. 1. 111. 



§.2. Deftru&im or Biefolutim 

cbarutn by triture vndi a librdron 
diftillM, aromatic Oil, diflblvesVm 
fluids, and carries the Oi/ along with 

43. Hot and dry CorrafioM% or at leaft 
13 eiic6l6d by/M;/i^j, is a Species of Ca/c^ 
.md haptens whenBodies, efpecialljr {ho 
mineral nature, are divided into very fm: 
tides or powder, by the addition of fin 
compound Salts, fulphurcous or adenica 
ters, or things of kin to thefei and this eii 
the way of fufion^ or the exhalation of a pi 
fing vapour. 

44. Thefe Bodies by being fufed with Sai 
come Crocus'' s j as for example, tiut comr 
called Crocus Metallorum : and the fame is 
underftood of all metallic Bodies, even Gold i 

The lame Refdution is made by the vo 
fubftance adhering in fulphur-, but, 'fh 
fpeaking, this is rather a diffolution of the 
gregatCj v/he^ it happens in a body tht 
firmly mix'd v fuch as are Metals. 

45. The fulphureous Z'^/Zw difpofed to proc 
this Solution with heat, are common Suljh 
Cinnabar anfl Anti?nony. And the Arfenical . 
Anthnony^ Lead and Arfenic \ to which may 
added Bifmuth and Regulus of Antimony. 

The Operation of them however is differei 
according to the difference of the Suh]ei 
whereto they are applied ; or according i 
their refpeftive power of diffolving. 

Thus 5////)A«r reduces all Met ah to powder 
except Gold and Silver^ if added to them ii 
fufion, or a ftate of ftrong ignition. 

Antimony converts the fame into \\^X.S cortex 
that float a-top 5 whilft the Silver and GoW^ 
ifthcvQ be any^ fink to the botiom. 



DeftruBion or Refolution. PartL 

After the fame mznntx Lead alfo imbibes 
the igmller Metals in Cupellation^ and finks 
them with itfelf into tho Cupel i leaving the 
Cold and Silver^ in their purity, behind : Or 
if the Operation be performed by the Blaft^ it 
carries off all the other Metals and Minerals, 
along with it, in the form of an arfenical 
powder* 

The liime is to be underftood 6i.Regulus of 
u^fjt'wwny. 

When thefe Bodies are applied for the pur- 
pofes juft. now mentioned, or the feparation 
cf Gold and Silver from other matters, they 
efFeft a refolution of the Com^otrnd y but when 
applied to imperfeoi Metals alone, they effeft 
only a dijfolulicn of the Aggregate \ for which 
end Arfenic alfo is made ufe of, 

46. When fuch a Refolution is made with a 
flow Fire, and as it were by t\\t Vapour of thefe 
corrofive Bodies, the Operation is called Cernen- 
taticn, 

T\\\s^ Operation is performed by laminating 
or granulating the MctaU and placing the cor-r 
roding body alternately between it, or Stratum 
fuper Stratum as *tis ufually called, in aclofe or 
an open Crucible \ then applying a gentle Fire 
for fome hours, and obferving to increaf^ it to- 
wards the laft, according as the Matter requires, 
which may fometimes be a degree of aftiial 
ignition. 

47. When this Operation is performed with a 
. view to the bare Solution of the Aggregate^ it does 

not belong to the prefent clafs •, but fo far as it 
does, this, as well as the former, regards the fu- 
rtficath;; of the mere noble Metals. 'Tis alfo ^r- 
form'd with 4 view to Covipfilm^ \tv x^" 



befides, in order to its 
again are perform'd cit 
d'um. 

49. In the cold are 
which by the means o 
Lixivium^ fevarote the 
the Mcnftriium that hi 
Yofihle fart of the Comj 
part which remained ui 
the Mc7tftriiim^ is fre< 
terpofttioh thereof. 

This Operation 1 
of Metals, prepared 
curius Vitcu^ Crocus j 
the Calx of Gold, &CC 

. 50, I'bofe Bodies tb 
are thrown down, fep 
of theMenftruums wh 
that will not diffolve tl 
t^ite tht Snlfitinrn mcide. 



DeftruBion or Refolution. Part I. 

(i,) Gold, Copper, and Iron alfo in part, 
are diflblved by Aqua regia ; but all the Metals^ 
except Gold, hy Aquafortis and Spirit of Nitre ; 
tho* one more readily than another. (2.) Sup- 
pofe Silver therefore diflblved in good Aqua-^ 
fortis or Spirit of Nitre^ and the clear Solution 
decanted. (3. j If Plates of Cot per be put into 
this Soluticfj^ the Mcnflruum will diflblve them ; 
and let fall the Silver^ it had before diflblved, 
in the form of a white ppwdcr. (4.) When 
the Meuflruum will diflblve no more Copper^ 
let the clear Solution be decanted from the 
Silver-powder at the bottom, and poured up- 
on Irn-flin^s \ and it will attack thcfe with 
a confiderable noife, diflblve them, and let 
i\\\\ the Coffer it before contained. (5.) This 
Solution of iKon being fikrcd, and poured upon 
Zirk ; the Menflruum will diflblve that, and 
let fall the Iron. (6.) Let this clear Solution 
of Zink be feparatcd from the Iron, and j^our- 
ed upon Cnibs-eys or Oijler-Jhclls^ and the 
Menflruum will now diflblve thefe and let go 
i!ie Zink, (7.) If this Solution be jllircil^ and 
Spirit of UrinCy or Spirit of Sal-amvioniac be 
poured thereto \ the Menflruum will imbibe 
this, and let go thetcftaceous Body. (8.) Laft- 
ly, to this clear Liquor add the Liquor of 
Jix^d Alkali^ and the urinous Salt will be fqxi- 
rated j though it docs not fill to the bottom, 
but, according to its own nature, rifes to the 
top*, 

,a^ 52. The rcfpeftively incorrofihic Parts are fc*-- 
»» parated hy heaty either in the way o( Re^ulus or 
"" the Cupel. 



\'^ See Part II $./. f.^. 



. 2. DeftruBim or Rgfilufioih 

Regulation b a fpecics of PrecMtati 
whence the Fufion of4^timonyt aiKl fuch. 
Minerals, is bjr the Metallifts termed the J 
cipitatton^ or thfbwif^ down of the more fi 
mctailine pari: out of die fubjed, or on 
Ore, jtliat confifts of ful^urous, arienical x 
metallic parts. This is eflt&ed by add 
fuch materiaU ip the mafs as are more reoi 
corroded and detained by its fulphureous a 
arienical pares, than the metalline body whi 
before poflefs'd them.. Such materiah arc / 
kalies, Iron, Copper, Tin and Lead, 

Antimon'j and all mcLilIic Ores are the At 
je6t of Regulation \ the latter confiftmg of 
certain fandy, njitrifiablc and fiiftble Eaitl 
along with a metallic part •, which being poi 
derous, and the Earth but lights the mctalli 
part, when they come into liquid fufion, mu( 
of neceflicy fall through the other, and bt 
collcftcd into one mafs at the bottom ; whici 
mafs, when boch arc cold, may be feparated 
from the otjher by the bare ftroke of a ham- 
mer on the fide. The glaliy matter a-top is 
called the Scorh ;, and the metallic part the 
Regulus^. 

Cupelldtiofj ,]s the manner of /c/)^r^//«|[ and . 
ptrfet^iy purifyifig the nobler Metals from every j; 
thing that is not Gold or Cilver. *Tis alfo 
applicable to the Ores of tbefe Metals^ in or- 
der, by the way ofajfay^ to difcover and af- 
certain their yield or richnefs in pure metaL 
The Operation is perforni'd in a veffel made 
of fine Afiies, which drinks in many of the 
heterogeneous impurities along with part of 
the Lead, empIoy*d in the work ; the Lead 
ferving to difiblve and carry otF with it, ci- 

f See Part II. §.^. f. ijj, eJ.^, $.4. ^.x^x ""- 



DeflruEiion or Refolution. Part I 

ther in fiime, drofi, or Litharge^ all but a 
little perfeft metalline Grain ^ over which it^ 
has no power *. 

' 53, The Separating-Glafs and the Fillre have 
3j" likewifc fome Ihare in the feparation of Com" 
^» pounds -, fo far as to keep afunder fuch confufed 
"^^ bodies as are fometimes niore, and fomctinies 
^•lefe difpofed to unite. 

But when thefe are more intimately com- 
bined together, they require fome particular 
Operations to fet them afunder : Thus the Oil 
and Water that compofe inflammable Spirits^ 
are fuperficially feparated by Tartarifation, but 
more accurately by Digeftion, either /)<?ry^, or 
with Oil of Vitriol. 

So likewife Oi/i, exprefs^d from mucilaginom 
Bodies^ are dephlegm'd by Tartarifation ; or 
by CoBion^ which evaporates their aqueous hu- 
midity t. 

* See §.1. ^.f. §.1.^.30. §-i. 1.4f. Part II. 
§.4. ^.47,48, d»^. 

t The fcvcral Operations here mcntion'd arc, at prcfcnt, 
confider'd only abftradcdly, as fzrts of thcTheory of Chemifirji 
pras the general Inflruments of Refolution ^ but they will here- 
after come to be particularly explained, and applied to real 
bufinefs in the prahical Farti whence alone a corppleat no- 
tion of them is to be expeftcd. 



3E 



I-3' Generation or Combination. 



r 



DM 



^ SECT. IIL 

57;^^ Object ^Chemistry, coftfi(/er*a 
I under the Notion £/* Generation 
i I or Combination. 

I* 

7. \ S tht Subje^s of Deftru£Hon or Refiliithn^ 

f\ according to what we above obiervMV 
V are Mixts^ Compounds and Aggregates i 

fo are they likewife the Subjects of Generation: 
that is, MixtSy Compounds and Aggregates arc 

' formed or co?nbwed by its means* 

. ,t 2. Collet he Combination is that whereby a-ff. 

: jaumber of fmaller Parts are brought together^* 

; into one larger Aggregate ; and it may follow 
nearly upon all the kinds of Deftru£lion 5 as our 
Operations arc almoft conftantly performed with 
Aggregate Bodies. 

;: 3. A principal Colleition of this kind is that Or 
p^f aline Bodies difperfed in Waters; y^hXch faline ^^ 
Bodies are cclle^ed by the Separation of allfenfible tia 
bumiditj ; and this is called Coagulation : but if 
Water materially concurs, and lome part of it 
1?- retained in the Salt, 'tis called Cry/tallization. 

4* The fmall parts of metalline Bodies are Co 
folhc'Jed by Colliquation \ fo likewife are their ][° 

. Palcesy if nothing heterogeneous adhere thereto : 
put if any thing heterogeneous, and contrary to 

•• ^^ nature of metals, is alfo to be feparated ; 

I this mull be done by Rediulion. 

' Of 



i 



44 Gjeneration or Combination, Pai 

Of the firft Operation little thin PlateSj 
pngs^ Filings^ and the like fmall parts of 
taliine Bodies are the Subject \ but of the /Jr. 
their Calces precipitated out of corroftve Li^ 
or, among the more imperfeft Metals, i 
that by an improper ignilign are deprive 
'4, certain conjlituent Part. 

5. Under the head of Collective Comhifi 

may likcwife be reckoned Extractions \ wh( 

the different Powers of Bodies are concentm 

that part of the Compound being thus colL 

I which materially exerts this fpecific virtue; 

hence proceed EJfences^ liauid Extracts^ &c. 

I cornhhatien 6. Arty in imitation ox Nature^ makes i 

u^^clncra!^ ^"^^ fame, common Inftrument in the rcfo 

tion of Com- and generati':n of Compcunds •, but this Inftru 

fcunds. pafllng, as it were in an inrtant, from the 

vice oiDeflruClion^ to the Service of Gener 

we flrall confider it as exillin^i in the Confi 

both. 

9y meant cf J. This ftihfervicnt Lifrumenf is F e r m e 

Ferincnta- ^lON ; which wc define in intejline Mot 

mix\l Parts J that fparates them in proport 

their vjobility^ a?2d rcfolvcs or combines the 

cording to its degree. 

8. So that this Operation requires for it 
jett^ the parts cf a Mixt u-hicb differ in mi 
that is, have different degrees of tenuity 
in the next place it requires a certain m: 
mcnt of tliis motion, fo that it be inhcr 
intejiiney and net loco-pulfive. 

The firft depends upon the Concrete 
and the other upon the mechanical \ 
mcnts ufed in thi:> Operation, 



?irifli?ru- P' The pri'icipal ofthefclaftruments V 
* '-^-fAe /bnnai modified 
depends^ islVatcr. 



if' j__ I . — 



§.3. Generation or Combination. 

Which are in c onflarit mocion, prefently movcaloi 
with tlKMi){:lvcs the more moveable particles 
the Concreu that were btfore at rcftj whii 
\y:\\\% tluis changed in their ficuationt and coi 
rcxioii, t>i coiuiniiicy, are now fet free and fcpa 
r .Li Iroin il.cir cffociate parts. But as thd 
\ . ri. Its now iiifcngaged from the hold of th 
iMV^ fixM, are more moveable than Wata 
Vnd acquJrc a greater motion from the fame prin 
xipli- as moves tliat \ ic follows that Htu oily fart 
ibeiig now fct free, and more (trongly moved 
!gives an additional motion to the fVaier where- 
by itftlf was moved before: and the Water ha- 
■ving its motion thus increafed, moves the par- 
? ticks that were immediately more immoveable 
'than itfelf, and forces them away from thofe that 
(are ftill more grofs and fluggifh. This phyGcal 
raftion is called Fermentation. 
i 17. And thus the Point oi diffolutory Ferfnenr\ 
\tation is obtained ; whereby the parts of a Body ^ 
.fare naturally, without alteration, and without 
^violence removed from one another, and kept 
afunder. If therefore juft when, this Point is ob- 
.tain'd, a fomewhat more violent motion, which 
is that caufed by heat, fliould be applied to the 
i whole mafsi the particles that are more move- 
;able than Water Would thereby be forced off, 
';and when thus fcparated from the Water unite 
I into an Aggregate called Oil. Upon continu- 
■\ ing and increaling the heat, the aqueous parti- 
cles, that were hitherto aninftrument, will be 
feparated alfo -, and if the heat be made yet 
ftronger than is fufficient to raife them, then 
the particles of the Concrete immediately more 
immoveable than Water, will be forced away 
along with them. But thefe more fix'd parti- 
cles remaining in the fVater^ do in time partly 
fubfide in a mucilaginous form, and mv\Y V>€i 



acn< 



\ Generation or Combination. Part I. 

dried fo as to appear folid and truly earthy ; 
but the next more fubtile particles, which we 
call falinc, remain permanently in the Water. 
1 8. We learn from hence in what Subjefts 
j^^ Fermentation may be aflifted by Art, This is 
^ to be effcfted either bv increafing or rcftraining 
the Motion, Tlie firft is required in thofe bo- 
dies which contain litil<? OiU but have much 
fubtile earth, or a mucilaginous difpofition inhe- 
rent in them. Thcfe are to be aflifted by heat. 
But thofe that abound with the oily Principle 
are to be kept from heat •, and the inftrumen- 
tal motion of the Water is here to be check'd 
by cold. So that in Summer, balfamic and aro- 
matic Plants Ihould be fermented in a Cellar. 
a. 19, As from what we have hitherto delivered, 
men- Fermentation is nothing but an intettine motion 
• that feparates the parts of a Mixt -, we are fir- 
thcr to obferve with regard to its divifion, that 
this Ojieration which is merely refolutor\^ may 
with a little variation of Circumftances become 
co7?2l?i;rafory \ which for diftindlion fake we will 
call Covfeimentation. 

This is of two kinds : for it either happens 
by the fole afliftance of motion, in particles of 
a different fpecies, tho' ftill combinable \ or 
elfe by means of a body in motion, concur- 
ring as an inilrument, in any kind of parti- 
cles, provided they may be attenuated. As 
there is a real difference between them, we 
Ihall for the flike of diftinftion term the firft 
combinatory^ and the other aJIimHatory Confer- 
mentation. 

20. The Form of CornVwatory Fermentation 
confifts, as its name implies, in Combina^ 
The Inhrament of this likewife h Water \ 
Waccj: checked in the degree oi «vo^' 



T, 



^ 



§.3. Generation or Cmknatm. 

ble of motion, readOy lay M^ of and fl 
detain the oleaginous particles i it ha^vpehs k 
Commotion that the oleaginous parocks an 
tangled in the earthy* and thus more firmly c 
bined than in inflammable Sphiu 

24. The Confequences ofthb C^nAbuitin 
fifing from the condition of the Matter* ared 
(i.) That the Heater and Oil are in aftual 1 
tion ; and by means thereof move the terrefll 
particles. (2.) That thefc terreftrial pardi 
circumfcribe the motion of the otben, and ms 
it flower. (3 *) That as they arc actually vaaii 
but otherwife naturally hard of texture, r^ 
of figure, or conflfl:ing of few fides, but mai 
angles, and eafily combinable into a folid, hai 
and fix'd aggregate ^ fuch particles being am 
in motion, muft doubtleis eafily enter widi the. 
points into other contiguous bodies, and afllH 
them with their motion. And this is manifU 
to the fenfes by the cflfea of this d^ree of F^rr 
mentation 5 the ProduAions whereof are Vinegars^ 
or fluid, pungent, diflblving Concretes, that to 
feparate their parts require a much greater degree 
of heat than Waters. 

25. This moderate inteftine Motion being ftill. 
farther continued, or rather a little increaled by • 
external aflifl:ance ; the forefaid terrellriat par- 
ticles are fo attenuated and alter'd, as to move 
even along with the Oil •, wherewith befides, as 
we jufl: now obferved, they ft:rongly cohere. 

And hence again we learn v/\\:it Properties 
will arile from this Operation ; viz. extreme 
mobility on account of the Oil j and a falinc 
or pungent quality on account of the Earth 
adhering to the Oil. And this in effeft is the 
cafe of volatile Salts whicl> arc the produSl of 
this Operation. 



Generation or Combination. Part I. 

26. This Operation ufually pafles under the 
name of Putrefa£lion;2Xidi has hitherto been looked 
upon by many as the laft degree of refolutory D^- 
ftru£lion or Corruption ; which it by no means is, 
but rather the laft combinatory Cofnpofition^ which 
combines dijfclved Mixts to the greateft degree of 
tenuity, nearly to that of individuality, and 
thence forms Compounds of commixture moderate- 
ly tenacious. 

27. It muft be obferved of all thefe degrees 
of Confermentationj that in each, perform'd in 
the common method, a confiderable quanti- 
ty of 0/7, much more immoveable than grofs 
JVater^ is obtainable by diftillation •, and this fome 
have miftaken for the prodtUlion of Combination ; 
which it is not : for as the fame 0/7, and in 
much greater quantity, is found in crude and 
tinfermcnted bodies, as alfo in thofe that have 

. been moderately fermented^ but in a fomewhat 
lefs quantity ; and laftly in thofe that have been 
putrefied^ but in a ftill much lefs proportion ; 
it follows, that this is not the efFeft of an arti- 
ficial^ hwi natural Combination -, or in other words, 
that it is the oily parts of the Concrete^ not yet 
feparated from the^ terreftriaU 
la. 28. It remains that we laftly take notice of 
- ajfimilatory Fermentation \ whereby a fimple Body^ 
and from feveral of thefe together, a new Ag- 
gregate is produced, by Conformation or Configura- 
tion^ rather than a new Compound by Cofnbination \ 
t\it mechanical modus oi^\dz\\ inftrumentally con- 
fifts incollifwn with trituration^ znd formally ^ ci- 
ther in identity of quantity or magnitude^ or clfc 
in identity of quality or figure. 

We have a frequent Example of the fornv' 
in the production of inflammable Spirit^ w 
the^ro^ pari of Water^ and coufec\ueatl^ 
mveable than Ofly is fo far axx^u>x\i^ 



rmen' 



§•3* Generaiim or'Cm^maHM 

acquire chc natural moUUtyrf (XI s> ami 
CO appear along with it in the-^jjMi 

. rit. •■•■•", :•■- '■ "■■■■ .* 

Examples of the latter »e. priiM:ipal 
forded us by the cmimon Furmcnts^ in dt 
tivity» f^M^gar/whether goodordegrac 
and the likes which with a furpriziiM^ljrg 
celerity^ convert all other bodies tnit a 
ted for this operation* into their own 
ftance, than when by any other art w 
tempt to ferment wm without fuch 
tions. 

29. Of kin to thefe Comlnnatorf FermmtA 
is that called Cobobation i which is perforn[i\ 
returning the more moveable parts back u 
the more fixM, from whence they were fyi 
by diftillation ; mhcing them contiguoufly, t 
tatlng them together by digeftion, and at len) 
diftilling them again *f and repeating this fo 
ten, till a large proportion of the parts that I 
fore were aftually immoveable become attenuat( 
and being either connefted or carried off wi 
the others, move together with them. 

This Operation deferves a principal plac 
in xht attenuation of metalline bodies^ by meat 
of the Aquce fortes^ fo as to combine them witi 
the purer part of their Salts. 

30. Its manner of aBion is this. The falxne or 
fulphureous Particles of the Spirits and ff^aters be- 
ing very moveable, and mixM among, or by the 
motion of heat (hook together with, bodies. a lit- 
tle more immoveable than ihemfelves, and this 
on account either of their aggregation ox particu" 
lar figure •, in their commotion they cither dif- 
folve the texture of aggregation^ or ff'ind and jtib- 
/i&i? £b^ odicr bodies by muiual aUntiow> to^^ 

E3 



Generation or Combination. Part I, 

to reduce them to a greater degree of rar'h 
f anion and mobilih • and this aftion being fre- 
quently repeated, both of them at length move 
together, and become in like manner fluxile and 
cxhalable. 

31. The Pr^^«/f?w»j, therefore, of the Opera- 
tions hitherto mentioned, are rather ^r/i^^/V?/ than 
natufal\ viz. inflammable Spirits^ Vinegars^ vola^ 
tile Sallsy volatile metalline Solutions^ and the Vo- 
latilization of all fix^d bodies included under thefe. 
But the Separative Fermentation of Oils and 
Phlegmsy fatiirated Salts^ Oilsftill intimately in- 
herent in Earths^ and oi Earths themfelves^ is 
rather the Inftrument of DeJlru£lion or Refolu- 
tion. , 

I 32. Next to thefe more fimple Operations fuc- 
J*' cecd others that are more co^nplicated \ viz. the 
ex- Artificial Produiiions of certain natural EffeiJs. 
"^ Thu^ Vitriolsy for inftance, are produced at 

the pleafure of the Artift, by combining Spirit 
of Sulphur or of Vitriol with Iron or Copper^ 
cither feparately or in conjunftion ; or by an 
operation nearer approaching to the common 
or that of JVij///r^, viz. by Calcination with Sul- 
phur. For as the natural Vitriol is prepared 
from the PyriteSy or the very fulphureous Ore 
of Coppery calcined indeed to drive away the 
too copious fulphur of each, yet a fufficient 
quantity thereof is ftill detained in the metal- 
line parts of the Ore, and being join'd thereto, 
appears in the form of^faline Suhftance^ which 
is confequently foluble in Water \ and thereby 
fcparable from the other metalline and earthy 
matter, fo as by the evaporation of the fu- 
perfluous Water to appear in its own fo' 
The cafe is the fame in the artificial genen 
&fyiinoli excepting only iVvat l\yfc f^*^^ 



$.3* Generation or Comiinatkii. 

hering to themineratt and oonftitotii^ 
pare of the Vitrioh fo as to fender it a 
nous, is here excluded, at the difcretion 
Arcill ; and xSatVttriU rendered oiore n 
and fure. 

23. After the fame manner Chmdbar a 
prepared from common Mercury and Sulpha 
the fame or even greater purity and^erfi 
than the native or jojfil. The manner is to 
two parts of Mercurv, and one of crude Sul^ 
and having^ ground them together, mdt thet 
the fire, whereby the Sulphur will- imbibe 
Mercury J and with it tum into a black m 
which being gradually fuU[imed>» adheres to 
fides of the veflel, in form of friable, ihini 
red Needles, that being reduced to powder 
pear exceeding florid*. 

Obferve in the Sublimation that the Fire 
raifed briskly \ otherwife the colour of the C 
nabar will grow worfe and worfc. 

34. Sulphur 2i]{0j like to the common^ isufui 
ly obtained by diftilling the Oil or ftrong Spit 
of Vitrioly with Oil of Turpentine ; for the fire i 
this cafe being properly increafed, a Subfiance i 
every refped like natural Sulphur is fublimed, 
A folid Sulphur J like the common, is alio pre 
cipitated from Goals^ diflblved by an alkaline 
lixivium. 

Common Sulphur is feparatcd, or rather pre- 
pared in great plenty from Jntimonv. 

That Sulphur is thus generated from a mi^ 

neral Acid and ^nEarth, feems confirm'd from 

the confolidation of diftillM fluid Oils, into 

a hard, brittle, refmous Subftance, by means 

E 4 of 



Generation or Combination. Part I, 

of spirit of VitrioU or Spirit of Nitre % this be- 
ing the rudiment of fuch Sulphurs^ as appears 
by the dijlillation of Roftns^ which thus yield 
an acid Spirit diftindl from the Oil. 

Thu% if the Fumes of Benjamin be refpired, 
the Symptoms confequent upon it are the fame 
as proceed from the fumes of Sulphur ; fuch 
as difficulty of breathing, erofions, coagulation 
of the Blood, and ftubborn Coughs ; with 
other pleuritic and phthifical diforders, 

35. Mercury^ in all refpeSls like the common^ 
except in its arfenical malignity, may be made 
by ^r/ *. 

The Operation is tithcr feparative or prepa- 
rative ; tht feparative belongs to the article 
of DeJlruSiionj but the preparative to this 
place. 

The whole matter injlrumentally depends up- 
on a fufficient attenuation of the body, and ma- 
Serially upon fome conftituent part of common 
Salty and the volatile Salt of Animalsy Soot and 
Vinegar ; which part cannot hitherto, by any 
known and common Operations^ be got out or 
feparated from thofe Subjefts, fo as to appear 
in its own form : but by precipitation it rea- 
dily i^lheres to a metalline Concrete^ and falls 
with it to the bottom ; whence becoming 
more intimately united, *tis with great dif- 
ficulty feparatea from it again \ but reduces 
the metalline Concrete to a liquid confiftence. 
It is not however an immediate and grofs^ but a 
more intimate Precipitation that here dees the 
bufmcfsf* 



3 



6- 



*Sec the Head of Mncurtts of U%t9Xt% ^U^'(^m^% 



/ SccSuppkm. §.i, %.f,fif^t. 



§.3« Generation or Comiinatim 

36. Jrfenic is jcounterfeitcd by LimaQf 
for when a Solution of Silver^ made widi 
ofNitre^ is precipiuted wich Spirit ^Sd 
Calx^ by due management, may be iubUme 
a Subftance greatly refembling Arfenk. 

2y. 'Tis a renurkable Relation of the 
mentator upon the litde Treatife of Ajfa'^in^ 
by Fachfiusy as to the Converfion of Mgrcur^ 
Lead^ by Precipitation. To which add ds 
Becher^ as to the throwing common Sulpbm 
melted Silver ^ fo as to make it flow therewii 
a metalline form, and increafe (he we^c, 
change the Quality of the Silver^ and render 
all refpefts like Lead. This, if it be not ca 
gent, is well worth obferving. 

38. To the Clafs of Chemical Generation 
longs alfo Gradation \ by which, in parda 
Gold has its colour exalted *. 

39. Vitrification belongs rather to Compoj 
than to ftmple aggregative Colle^ion •, becauf 
its means Metals alfo, are turned into a gl 
Subftance. 

To the making of common Glafs alk; 
Salts do not a little contribute, both in we 
and bulk ; fo that if ufed in too large a 
portion, the Glafs becomes too brittle and ^; 
in the open Air. 

40. Various different ^alities are alfo g 
rated by Cbemijlry 5 as v/htn fix*d Bodies are *! 
tilized and volatile Bodies fix*d j but the ful 
vient operation to this purpofe depending i 
Fermentation and Digejtion^ the Fundament a 
thefe Operations are to be derived from thenc 

SEC 

♦Scc§.i. if. 47. 
^ t Thclc feveral Operations are likewiie more fully and 
tically delivered hereafter, as they come to be iccyjxu 
mifcfs. 



Inftruments of Operation. Part I. 



SEC T. IV. 

The Common Instruments of 
Chemical Operations, 

a 1, J J^OR t\it performance of the foregoing vh 
[on jA Jirumenfat Operations^ the material and 
mechanical concurrence of feveral Injlrth 
ments is required. 

Some of thefe contribute more immediately 
to the Operation \ which we therefore call /«- 
Jlruments of Operation \ and others more remote- 
ly, whereto the Inftruments of Operation are 
applied -, and thefe are termed Inftruments of 
Adminiftration. 

Both kinds are either common to fever aU or 
peculiar to certain Operations. 

2. The common Inftruments of Operation are ei- 
ther moft general^ as Motion and Reft \ lefs gene* 
rah as Fire or Heatj and Air^ or a dry volatile 
fluftuating Fluid, IFater or ^LmoiH Fluid,£^r//^ or 
a fix*d Solid ; or c\k particular as Menftruums. 

3. M?//(?;/ conftitutes the Genus of all Chemical 
Operations^ and its refpe£t with regard to termina- 
tion^ the Form. It is of two kinds ; viz. vertical^ 
orconftantly about an axis in a certain f paces or 
redilineary otherwife called progrej/ive. 

ff- 4. There are two things to be confidered in 
f^^ Fire, viz. (1) Its matter, and, what depends 
thereon, its immediate contact with the Sui 
(2) Its Form, and the mere formal EJiciet, 
fuking from iu 



4. Inftrummts of Operation. 

According to the different hc(ero{^eiie 
the body whereby *tis fed, it i^irace 
throws out different Effluvia^ of z BA\ 
nature *» fo that if any fubjeft be immu 
expofed thereto, having a certain phyfica 
pofition, part of thefe effluvia will be cot 
hicated to it, and adhere fomednies t 
fomccimes lefs tenacioiifly, and (bmedmes 
vent or at lead modify the refolution or a 
iiatiofj. 

We have an Example of the former kin 
the Flame of Sulphur^ which corrodes ti 
ftrial and metalline bodies, and concenti 
itfelf therein. 

Examples of the latter are common. T 
in the melting oiSealing-Wax at the Flame 
a TallcW'Candlei a footy matter very reac 
infinuates itfelf and difcolours the ff^ax. . 1 
we are to obfervc that fuch efFcfts may i 
proceed from the effential and conftituent pa 
of the flame, but from fome extraneous a 
accidental particles catch*d up and thrown c 
along with it i which fuppofition is favour 
by this, that highly reSlified Spirit of Wine^ tb 
it gives a moft perfcft and compleat Fire, a: 
fords no Soot at all. 

5. HVt formal and more remote Influence of tbi 
Brey called by the name of Heat^ is requifite in 
thegreater part ofri?^wrV^/ Operations^ and afts 
in the following manner. 

Fire is an aggregate of a great number of par- 
ticles that are exceedingly moveable, and in 
aftual motion. Its m:Uter therefore are thofe 
very moveable particles which we otherwifc 
call/«r^ Oils\ its Form^ their aUttalMotioni^nd 
its Genus^ an Aggregate. 



InfirumenU of Operation. Part I, 

When thefc F articles arc feparately agitated 
thus, and at a condderable diftance from one 
another, they make what we call Warmth. 

But when a great number of thefe intenfe^ 
moved Particles come together, that is, when 
the Ftre burns flrongly^ the parts of the bo- 
dies contiguous thereto, muft thence be ne- 
ceflarily impelled, according to their degree of 
mobility: and thefe parts the nearer they ap- 
proach to the mobility of thofe that :ire properly 
igneous^ fo much the more intenfely will they be 
impeird by the Firei and the more they are im- 
pell*d, the ftronger will they impel thofe that 
lie contiguous to them, ana drive them away. 

This concretive Motion of fuch parts, that is 
the particles themfelves thus intenfely moved, 
we properly call Heat 5 and the impulfe they 
imprefs upon other bodies, at a diftancc, that 
are Icfs moveable, we call Calefa5lion. 

s, 6. The immediate EffeSt which Ftre or Heat 
is defign'd to procure is the intejline motion of the 
farts of a Concrete^ this being the primaryDi^blver 
of Continuity^ and thence offpecijic Combination. 

7. The mediate Effe£l of Heat j which is greatly 
promoted by the progreflive motion of the am- 
bient Air, is a certain expeditious Co^nbination of 
the f?jaller particles of a Concrete ; . tho' this is 
preceded by an attenuation and comminution of 
all the particles of the Concrete^ both \n figure and 
bulk \ which follows upon their attrition, the con- 
fcquence of intelline motion. 
^j 8. To illuftrate what we have faid above, Pi- 
'-^^-^ fl illation may ferve us for an example ; the phe- 
nomena whereof are thefe. Water being put into 
a tall folid veffel, fo as to leave a large part tb' 
of B}}ed with air ; and the veffel beia^ cov 
iiccop with another fit for t\vt^ut\jQSfc^\\Pi 



■r 



§.4- Inftruments of Operation. 

Heat be applied to the httmn of the vejpd that ic 
mediately contains the fFattr^ the s^jffel UJi 
firft grows warm in this part» and afterward tl 
liquor it contains. The beat being now increi 
fed, the liquor is gradually di/perfed^vaid carried u 
in invifible particles to the top of the vcflfel 
where thefe particles inipinging againft the fides 
again anuis together, collelft into drops, and be 
come a new Water. 

The manner of aSlion here appears from thi 
phaenomena to be as follows. The Ftre oi 
Heat^ that is, a multitude of fmall particles in 
aAual motion, move and impel the fmall con* 
ftituent particles of the folid veffeJ ; which be- 
ing thus impeird, agitate the particles of the 
contained liquor \ and thefe again impel the. 
air contain'd in the veflfel, and being alfo rubb*d 
together by their own inteftine motion, they 
increafe the motion of the contained yfir, whicli 
being now agitated in its fmallefl parts, with 
a fluftuating motion drives off the aqueous parts 
in great numbers, or carries them about with 
itfelf, till at length ftriking againft the upper 
* part of the veffel, which is colder, and has 
its fmall parts aftually lefs moved, they here 
amafs and again coUcft into aqueom Aggregates 
ox Drops. 

9. We are here to obferve a remarkable Confe- 
quence of this Operation^ viz. t\\:dXfimt>leJVater 
' may by its means, or by repeated dijlillatwf, be 
j brought to fuch a great tenuity, by the attrition 
of Its fmalleft particles, as thence to become not 
only much more volatile or^moveable, but even fo 
fubtileas infcnfibly topafs thro' the fubftance of the 
containing Glafs,as it were by tranfpiration \ which 
we find confirmM by the teftimony of very ctedv- 
^kauthors. And Gremfms afferts,tVvatb7 tYveW^ 



Inftruments of Operation,V2at\ \ 



am 



diftilling of Rain-Watcr, it may be prefervcd 
for Ages uncorrupted. But the truth hereof de- 
pends upon the motion and manner of the Du 
Jlillation \ for if the Operation be performed with 
violence, the water will not keep good fo much 
as for a yean 

ID. Air is a inafs of bodies intenfely moved v and 
confequently ti fluid Aggregate \ whofc conftituent . 
parts are not only agitated by an inteftine motion, 
but alfo by one that is nearly progreflive. Whence 
Mr. Bo'jle fufpeds that its fmallcft particles have 
a particular texture ; which indeed feems highly 
probable from their motion, * 

This Air is alfo the caufe and foundation of | 
progrejfive ^notion in corporeal Atows \ a phseno- 
menon of which we have in the Example juft 
now produced, viz. the Diflipation of the a- 
queous particles in Diftillation : and this may 
be flirther illuftrated by the following In« 
ftance. 

If common AJhes be put into common Pf^a^ 
ier^ and the mixture be fet to reft, the grofs 
and tcrreftrial part, of the AJhes will fubfide,' 
and the water float clear above them •, but if 
Fire be applied to this mixture, fo as to make 
the water boil, the whole will appear dark, 
and a large part of the earth be agitated along 
with the zvater \ and this fo long as the heat is 
. continued. 

Upon examining how it happens that the 
Earth fhould here move along with the fVater^ 
we find it not to proceed immediately from the 
Fire, as if this impeU'd the tcpfeftrial particles 
fo as to make them movo together with the 
Water \ for if JF/Vv were applied to the Earths- 
lone, without the interpofition of JVctter^ 
Earth would not be moved at all. It foil 
therefore riiat tiiis motion ofWvc Ear»^*' 



§4* Inftrummts of Operation. 

diate-, or in other words, chat the ^4 
being vehemently agitated by the Fire luid 
neath, wafhes about and agitates thefe eart 
particles in the fame manner as if it were ftin 
by the hand or a (tick ; whence of courfe t 
JVater becomes thick and muddy^ 

And jufl in the fame manner as the Wat 
here afFcfts t\\i Earth thp -rf/r affefls the fP 
ter\ for as the Water by its progreflive mi 
tion moves the particles of Earth along to d 
very extent of its bulk •, fo thc-^ir moves alon 
with itfelf the conftituent particles of the^^ 
ter wherever its motion reaches* 

II. The more obvious Example of Water wil 
better manifeft the mechanical Inftrumentality A 
Air: in order therefore to explain this matter cf- 
fcftually, we muft lay down fome Axioms which 
regard them both. 

And (i.) As Water is to terreftrial orfolid 
particles •, fo is Air to the particles of cold, 
fluid and exhalable bodies. 

(2,) Water being a fluid, has this cflential 
property of fluidity, that all its fmallefl: parti- 
cles arc in actual motion : but as motion is 
more eaftly propagated than ft:oppM; thefe 
finall particles in motion will move thofe next 
to them that are moveable, tho* they were ac. 
reft before, and carry them along with them- 
felves. 

(3.) Teryejlridl particles^ with regard to7/^^z- 
tery are nearly ^w//^ or original Mixts\ viz. 
the grofs or the more fix^d Salts. 

(4.) The modus of Solution in regard to Salts^ 
depends upon this, ihitWater^ as a body agi- 
tated in its fmallefl: parts, being put to them, 
drives all their particles from their places, and 
Carries them every way up and dowv\ v4\^Vv \t.- 



InftrutnenU of Operation. Part L | 

felf ; cfpecially if its progrefllve agitation be 
aflifted by an external caufe. 

(5.) But if the intejline motion of the Water 
be alone continued^or rather increased, and the 
frogreffive motion ftoppM, it will efFe£k an at- 
trition alfo of the particles it moves about, and 
confcquently either a Separation or Dijfolution 
of thofe that are compounded^ or a comminu- 
tion and transfiguration of fuch as are more fim- 
pie. Of the former we have an Inftance in 
the depuration of Vitriol \ and of the latter in 
the Confermentation and Cohohation of inflam- 
mable Spirits \ but particularly in the Incera- 
tion of volatile Salts diflblved per deliquiuin\ 
which thus by repeated deliquation are rendered 
fo fine and fluxile, that they run and fufe al- 
moft at the very fame inftant ; but at length 
they remain perpetually fix'd in a fluid con- 
fiftence, fo as neither to evaporate nor boil up, 
though put into an ignited Crucible •, the fub- 
ftance whereof they neverthelefs penetrate in 
• the fame manner as Oil does Leather, 

cr 12. That alfo \% ^ remarkable Effe£l of JVater 
\ which it performs, not fo much by its formal as 
. by its material concurrence \ viz. Effervefcence. 
This happens when two very fubtile or fa- 
line bodies, being agitated in Water^ impinge 
againft one another, whilft they have a difpo- 
fition to enter into a clofe connexion, or firm- 
ly to apply and combine together. Thefc 
bodies are otherwife, from a generical ditfc' 
rence called Atid^ and Earth'j^ or Alkaline. 
And while fuch particles are violently agitated 
in Watery and rubb*d againft one another, 
they, with the fame impulfe, grind and atten" 
ate the particles of the Water interfperfed 
twcen and contiguous to ihetiv, w^ "* 



§4* Infiruments ofOperationi 

fucha d^ree, as to make them approadi 
tenuity i and on account of the /aline andeai 
particles comminuted along with them^ 
elajlicity alfo of jlir. And thus refembling 
aerial Subftance^ they not only rife in bubb 
to the top of the liquor, but even counter! 
genuine Air in their burfting. 

This appears plain, when fuch an Effer\ 
fcence is only raifedto a moderate degree. F 
example, put an ounce of Aquafortis into 
middle fized and uncut Cucurbit, and let fa 
into it, for the fpace of one or two days, an 
only by a drop at a tune, a lixivium ( 
Salt of Tartar, till at length no more bubble 
will arife. Thus the factitious Air we ipeal 
of, which wou'd otherwife move impetuoufly 
will be gradually condenfed on the fides 6: 
the veflel, and again coUefted into liquor anc 
drops ', though fome part of it indeed can by 
no means be detained. 

13. Now asF/r^, Water and Air are the^/»- 
ctpal Infiruments of Motion \ fo Earthy of itfelf, \ 
is the Principle of Reft and Aggregation % though 
by accident, and efpecially when join*d with 
Watery or Wat^r and Air^ in the form of va- 
pour, it lays the foundation of Separation or com-* 
tnon Solution. 

For SaltSy which are the moft fubtile tcr- 
reftrial Concretes, have the mechanical mo- 
dus of their diffolving power dependent upon 
this, that being angular bodies, with Surfaces 
interpofed between the Angles, and agitated 
in a liquor, thev force out of their places all 
the particles oi Aggregates j that is, they de- 
ftroy the connexion oi aggregation. And in 
the fides of terreftrial particles there is lodged 
an aptitude and difpofttion for contiguous or og- 



Infiruments of Operation. Part L 

gregative Combination i as there is an aptitude in 
their points and angles to penetrate9 adhere, 
and drive off. 

14. To recapitulate what we have faid of the 
Inftrumental ASlivit'j of Motion^ we find each of the 
Concretes mmXAQTi^dij has a different degree there- 
of. Thus, ( I .) Water moves bodies intenfely \ but 
the fubjefts defign'd for it ought firft to be ac* 
tually divided, if they prove a little lai^er, or 
more ponderous than its particles. (2.) Air alfo 
moves with a confiderable velocity. But, (3.) Fire 
is that violently impelling inftrument, which moft 
intenfely agitates and drives even the more fix'd' 
terreftnal bodies, that neither Air nor JVater 
cou*d ftir. 

Thus the Fufion of Metals is efFcfted by a 
motion of all the particles about their own 
axes •, which introduces fluidity. If all thefc 
particles arc already fufficiently fine, they fufe 
the eafier j but if the body be compafted 
of particles having different degrees of mo- 
bility, the agitation of the ambient Air will 
. . the (boner difpel and carry them off with it- 
. felf ; whence Evaporation and Volatilization. 
And \i metalline bodies of this difpbfition be long 
detained in fufion^ all the more moveable parts 
will be thus feparated and carried away by the 
Air ; and the remainder left ignited indeed, but 
much lefs moveable and incapable of flowing 
any longer. 

^tf. 15. Having hitherto confiderM the Capital 

*»<y and general Injlruvients of Operation^ we come 

■ now to that particular kind called MenJlruumSy 

or certain diflblvcnt Liquors materially compofed 

of IVater and Earth \ but more formally of / 

stndJir. 



§4* Infiruthenu of Operatim. 

Their formal ASMty depends upon di 
tion of thefe fluid or aqueous, and card 
faline particle ; and if this motion be incr 
by heat, the end, viz. the Sohttm of tbe 
gregatfy is the fooner obtain'd^ 

1 6. Thefe MenJIruums do not. only diflfer 
merically^ but alio fpecifically^ or in die £/ 
of their Effe£ls. Nearly all of thcfii indeed 
faline, but their effeSls differ wirii the differe 
of their Salts. The mechanical caufe of i 
phaenomenon may probably depend upon t 
particular figure of t\it agent Menjiruum^ a 
the patient Subjeli. To explain this the bem 
let us confider the following Example^ Su^ 
pofe a Cube, or body of any other figure, coi 
filling of numerous other little cubes lying nioi 
or lefs clofeiy together ; on the other hand, fup 
pofe numerous little round Corpufcles having 
many fides, and confequently very obtufe an- 
gles ; laftly, fuppofe different parcels of fquate, 
triangular bodies, whofe angles are very acute : 
it is evident, if any number of thefe latter an- 
gular bodies, being feparately moved, impinge- 
upon a parcel of the former little cubical bodies i 
they will the more readily penetrate the conti- 
guity, or enter the junftures thereof, the loofer 
thefe junctures are, and the fliarper the angles 
of the little impinging bodies : lb likewife the 
cafier will they move thefe little bodies from 
their places, the more intenicly they impinge a- 
gainft them. 

But it has hitherto been found impofTible 

to apply this Doftrine definitively, and to fa- 

tisfaftion, in the Solution of Chemical PbcB- 

nomena*. 

F 2 17. 

* Sec Boerhaave'^ Chapter of Mcft&fuuuvs* m \Vjc »»t^ 



Inflruments of Operation. Part L I 

}Uf^ 17. The Inftruments peculiar to certain Opera- 
"^^ tions are all thofe vulgarly called Inftruments % 
fuch as Cucurbits^ with their blind or open Heads, 
Retorts J Receivers^ PanSj Crucibles^ ^(fih Cupels^ 
metalline Cones ^GlaJfeSy Mortars^ &cc. 
nti 18. Tht Inftruments of Adminiftration ti\h J arc 
*'' either fubfervient to feveral Operations in com- 
mon, or peculiarly to fome only. 
r- Of the former kind arc principally Furnaces^ 

with all their parts, 

Thefe are divided into feveral kinds ; thus 
the Affciy-Furnace^ the Reverberator^^ the Bi- 
gefting'Furnace^ the Diftilling-Furnace^ and the 
ff^indj Air or Melting-Furnacey have all their 
particular ftrufture. 

T\\t Matter of them all is the fame ; viz. 
Bricks fet in a proper figure, and faften'd to- 
gether with Luting or Mortar. 

In a certain part they have all one common 
Forvi •, but a peculiar Form in another part. 

An AJh-pit is common to them all, being 
in the lower part of the whole Furnace ; and 
left either fquare or round like a fack. 

An Iron-Grate to fupport the Coals is like-^ 
wife a common part, lying immediately above 
the Alh-pit. 

Each has its particular Stru^ure from the 
Grate upwards: thus tliQ AJfay-Furnace and 
the Reverberators are brought into an arch a- 
top ; in the miadle whereof is a large aper- 
. ture; to receive, if there beoccafion, a tube 
of any length, in order to increafe the heat. 

The Air-Furnace alfo admits of this Struc- 
ture; though it is commonly made cylin- 
drical ; the heat being here the ftronger, the 
higher its top is carried above the Grate. 
Lir- • There islikewife another kind of Air-^ 
'^J^j. mce^ work'd with artificial Wind^ fu^jpli 

.» 



§.4* Inftrutnenti of Operation^ 

Belltnvsj in the nature of a Forgcbeartb. 1 
in order to fave chai^es» it may Co bei 
advantage be built as follows. Make an \ 
rizontalTube of bricks, or arched Tiles, 
length of three or four Yards, the longer i 
better ; and let it be fomewhat wider at c 
end than the other, fo that the fmaller orif 
may be directed into the Afli-pit of a coi 
men narrow fquare Furnace v obfervingac t 
time of ufe to keep the Alh-pit clofe ftopp 
up. Thus if ^ Furnace TiSt i6 or i8 incn 
above the AJh-^t^ and the coals be fee on fi 
upon the Grate, the air -wUl rufli fb imp 
tuoufly through the horizontal Tube, as t 
raife a greater flame or heat than that caufe 
by bellows. 

The fame End is obtainable, if inftead c 
this horizontal Tube, the ftrufture of theF«r 
nace be carried to a confideriable height abovi 
the Grate ; efpecially if it ends pyramidal, oi 
rather conical and narrow at laft : For in thi§ 
cafe, the afh-pit being open, the air will be 
violently fqueezed thro* the coals, and con- 
tinually driven upwards, fo as to imitate the 
aftion of Bellows. 

By joining both thefe Struftures together, 
a moft prodigious force of Fire may be ob- 
tain'd. 

19. The Diftillwg-'Furnace requires different? 
Parts, according to the different manner of Di- **| 
fiillation. Thus in particular, Diftillation with a 
naked Fire requires the Furnace to be raifed four- 
teen or eighteen inches above the Grate •, the 
height of 6 or 8 inches being left for the Coals* 
Immediately above which height an iron bar or 
two muft be fix'd tranfverfe ; the figure of them 
being hemifpherical, and anfwcringtht \i\A^e. o^ 



\ Inftrumenti of Operation. Part I, 

the diftilling veffel or Retort, if this be round, 
as is commonly the cafe \ but ftrait, if the vef- 
fel be flat-bottom*d •, which is more commodious. 
Upon thefe bars is immediately placed the vef- 
fel containing the matter \ and the Furnace clofed 
a-top with plain Tiles and Luting \ obfervihg 
only to leave four vent-holes, viz. on each fide 
one. Regard alfo muft be had in the Strufture 
of the Furnace, to leave a Nich on that fide 
where the Receiver is beft applied, of fuch a fizc 
that the Neck of the Retort niay conveniently 
come out thereat, 

ao. When the Diftillation cannot be performed 
. by the immediate contaft of the Fire, certain 
Mediums are interpofed betwixt the Fire and the 
veflel that contains the Subjeft, 

Thefe Mediums require a deftined Place to 
contain them. 

This Place is afforded by what we gene- 
rally call the Poi •, which may be made of 
Caft-lron, but beft of fuch as has been ham- 
mered ; both of them being luted on the outr 
fide : or it may even be made of common or 
Potters Clay. 

But this latter kind requires iron bars to 
fupport it. 

We arc here to obferve, that fome cer- 
tain Operations admit of this Potj and fome, 
as the redtification of Oil of Vitriol, even re- 

3uire it, without the interpofition of any me- 
ium but the Air. Whence fuch operations 
are faid fo be performed in Capella vacua. 

euiUf 21. The more peculiar and immediate In- 

nt'l^.firuments of AdminiJlraticti*^mt\iXtgixxdi tothofe 

ofAcj. foregoing, are fuch as follow. 

^^r AH 

i/iar. *> 



4« Infirummt$ of Operation. 

All O'll'i or StdflmriMu Ba£is in gnen 
the Medtum for die applicadoQ c//irr } 
principally and comaiiDnly IFMi urtucl 
fording only a vagiie, uneqiial and inconi 
flame, unlets new parcds are with great 
hour continually lupplicd ^ k is of prime 
only in the larger Irmi-Btnuues % where 
care muft be kid that its Soot do not al 
and change the matter to be fuled. 

Coals are radier to be ufed in its ftet 
for thefe having not only a light, bur : 
a much more tenacious oO^ part, fbroni 
combined with Earth, they give a much m 
durable and permanent heat. But there i 
great difference between a caniemt and a J 
ming Ftre^ as to degree ; the former propelU 
concretes and fmall bodies much lels than t 
latter. 

There is alfo a remarkable difference b 
tween Coals \ they being in reality of thn 
kinds ; tho* generally confined to two ; vh 
the vegetable or IVood-coal^ and rUtitfoffil^ lith 
minous or mineral Coal. 

IVood'Coals differ with regard to the tree thej 
are made of-, thofe made of folid Wood arc 
prefer*d to thofe made of lighter. 

But the accidental difference of Coals is to 

be carefully obferved ; fome whereof take fire 

kindly, glow (lowly, and bum equably \ 

whilft others burft to pieces, with a confider- 

able noife, as foon as they feel the heat •, which 

is a very pernicious accident, particularly in 

the fufion of faline bodies. 'Tis ufual for 

the bark of the tree, ftill (licking to the Coal, 

to do this i whence fuch kind of Coals are to be 

rejcfted: though by igniting of them (lowly, 

that the included air may come out gently, 

they may be made to burn with but \\u\e> 

F 4 '"^ 



^ Injiruments of operation. V2iXtl, 

if any, of this diflurbance. But the belt are 
thofe that arc folid and ponderous. 

Mineral Coals are allowed to give a more im- 
petuous and fufHciently durable heat } whence 
they are recommended for fuch operations as 
require a tolerably ftrong and long continued 
fire 5 as for inftance, in the Piftillation of the 
Vinegar of the Ore of Antimony, mentioned 
by Bobn in his Chemical Differ tation of Fire. . 

Under the Qafs oi Coals we may well reckon 
the hitnmmous Turf of Holland -, which being 
ignited and quenched in Water, becomes a 
Coal^ that prefently takes fire all over, and com- 
municates it like Tinder ; yielding a conft^nt 
and moderately ftrong heat, 

22. A Lamp fed with OiU ('tho* this indeed re- 
quires fnufHng) or Spirit offFi^te^ is a neat and com- 
pendious Inftrument for Imaller Operations ; fuch 
as Extradlions, Digeftiqns, fine Calcinations, and 
the like •, which in a fmall quantity, may by its 
means, be commodioufly and excellently per- 
formed. 

For a S/irit of fPlne Lamp fuitable to this 

purpofe, we have an admirable Model in the 

ji^a Curioforuni Lipfia:. 

unu ^3' The Sun likewife affords a material Injlru- 
ment of Ignition \ thus Ancimony, for example, is 
by its concentrated rays calcmed into a white 
iponderous Powder, of particular virtues, as fome 
will have it : and fuch Maxwell in his Medicina 
Magnetica feems to account it. 

The Injlrtwiints for thus applying and con- 
centrating the Snn^s rays are Burning-Glaffes » 
of which we have many notable Examples and 
Effedtsin the French Memoirs ^n^ E'^l^^JJ^ ^^^' 
hfo}bical Tranf anions* 



§.4* InftrumettU of Operation. 

24. Air is immediately applied in a dry, (hac 
and moderatelv warm place, a lictleexpoied to t 
wind ; and fucn a ^lace is particularly chafe for t 
commodious Drying of Aromatic Vegetables. 

Tis mediately applied by Bellows ; of whii 
we are to obferve that if they be double 1 « 
two of them fo applied together, as that d 
lower communicates with the cavity of th 
upper, they may be always made to give ot 
conftant equable Blaft, 

Ac^uasdufts, Catarafts, or Falls of Water]ar 
likewife made to afford Air. and Wind ; as ti 
which may be confulted the Teebnica curio/a a. 
Scbottusy and the Philofopbical Tranfaliiom. 

The Subftitutes for Bellows we have ahready 
touchd upon in fpeaking of the Wind-Fur- 
nace^ \ and for farther information as to this 
particular, we refer to Kunkel^s Commentary 
upon Neri^s Art of Glafs. And upon the fame 
foundation depends the Englijh Method of ex- 
trading the noxious Air out of Mines, and 
fupplying them mxhfrejh. 

25. Common Spring JVater is immediately and IP 
materially applied in many Operations «, tho* 
there be a great difference therein, according to 
the difference of its rife and courfe : whence the 
common expreflions of hard ^,nd foft Water. The 
hydrojiatical Balance alfo, and fome curious taftes 
will difcover a difference in the Waters of different 
springs. Thi$ difference fometimes depends up- 
on the admixture of Nitre -, and fometimes upon 
that of a fubtile Earth. 

And fometimes Rain-water^ Snow-water and 

Lew are applied in the fame manner. 
JVater is more mediately adminiftred in the 

form of vapour s which is natural in Cellars, 



74 Infiruments of Operation. Parti. 

and ierves to diflblve bodies /^r dtliquium \ and 
in a rainy feafon for the colle6l:ion of Oleikm 
Sulpburis per Campanam. *Tis ftill more re- 
motely applied in containing and receiving vcf. 
(els, as for the Balneum Maria y Balneum vapo- 
rofum^ Refrigeratories^ iic. 

JEartbt. 26. The Earths or terrejlrial Materials ufed 
as Injlruments of Adminijtration are thefe, viz, 
(i) Sandy {2)AJheSy (3) Clay s^ and (4) Afjir/j or 
Boles. 

[\^ Sandy in particular, is chofe for the 
medium between thtPoty and the diftilling Veffd, 
whereto it affords a bed 5 whilft a moderate de- 
gree of heat is defign'd. 

The beft for this ufe is that coarfe Sand ox 
fine Gravel ionndi upon the banks of Rivers, or 
Rivulets ; being firft paffed through a tolera- 
bly fine fieve, to make it uniform, and free 
it from the fmall ftones, which might other- 
wife break the Glafs in the Operation. 

Iron-filings are fometimes fubftituted for this; 
when a greater degree of heat is required. 

[2,] AJhes are made choice of for this pur- 
pofe, when the heat is defigned to be gentle 5 
or rather we (hould prefer the Earth that re- 
mains after thefe aflies are lixiviated and clear d 
of their lair ; the Coals being firft feparated 
from it by the fieve. 

[3.] Clays are required for luting and con- 
folidating the Junftures both of Furnaces and 
VeflTels ; as alfo for coating over the whole 
body of them. The Clay fit for this purpofc 
is that properly fo called j which however, for 
the building of Furnaces^ is commodioufly mix'd 
with horfe-dung, or chaff fprinkled with urine, 
and well foak*d and beat in amongft the O 
before *fis ufed. 



!§4- 



The 
as fervc 

The 
of Glal 
comndG 
mx*d t 
add a fi 
Iron. 

[4-1 
themal 

torts^ E 
cure th' 
falcs an< 
rife am 
are the 
Nitre, 
The 
intimat 
ty, in 
Oilsfoi 
even of 
Supplei 



[76] 



P A R T II. 

The PRACTICE of 

Chemistry. 



1, 1|r^ T E have hitherto confidered the Sul 

%/%/ je£lj Obje£l and Means ofCbemflr 

▼ ^ in general ; it remains that we ne> 

particularly lay open the feveral Species oft 

SuhjeSls \ as well tiic fubaltermte^ as the moftpi 

iicular. And this we fliall do in the analytic 

Method ; that each of thefe Species may be coi 

fidered according to its eflence, and componei 

parts ; whence it will appear, to what Oper 

tions and in what manner each is fuited *, ai 

what new Produftions it is proper to afibrd. 

We (hall therefore, (i) more generally trc 

the fubalternateor generical fpecies of thefe fu 

jefts, vfz. Salts, Sulphurs, Waters and Eartl 

(2) Thendefcend to the more particular, ^ 

cording to the three kingdoms thereof, "v 

Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal. (3) A 

laftly, we Ihall add the moft particular Speci 

found in each kingdom, or produced by cl 

mical Compofition andRefolution, 



2. 



§j. Mineral Salts. 

2« The mort generical Subjeffs 0/ Cbemiftry a 
found principally under the commcm qiiadrop 
Diftinftion of Salt, Sulphur, Water an 

Earth. 



SECT. L 

S AL t s; 
Andfitft thofe of the Mineral Khigdaml 

1.0 Alt is a mixM Body confifting of Earth and 
^ Water, both of them in their funple,ge^ 
^ nuine (late, intimately combined together. 

2. Thefe being its Principles, *tis eafily and 
fimily mix'd along with other bodies, that par-; 
take of either of them •, that is, either of Water ^ 
orEarth, 

3. Salts in their own effencc are of a fluid con- y 
fiftencc, aad of a mean degree of volatility \ cor- '' 
rofive, and foluble in Earths. 

4. But as they happen to fall upon different R 
tcrrcftrial Concretes, and corrode them, they pro- Jj^ 
duce diifercnt Species of Salts ; the more com- 
mon whereof, and fuch as are found natural, 
are Vitrtoly Aliwiy Nitre^ Common-Salt^ and Sal" 
ammoniac. 

5. Thefe feveral Species of Salt? differ in theirif- 
groffcr Subftance, only according to the different '^^ 
kinds of Earth and mix'd earthy bodies they cor- 
rode, and therewith come into a folid Subflance. 

Of thefe terreftrial Concretes we are to ob- 
ferve, that one always combines, entangles 
and detains a faline fubftance ftronger than 
another j and accordingly parts with it more 
readily or more difficultly* 



aiatre* 



8 Mineral Salts. Part 11. 

iimg The following mechanical Experiment (once 

J"7/ already produced as the foundation of Preci- 
^ ' pitation) affords an Example that ought to be 
well confider*d, in order to difcover the nature 
and effence of Salts. 

When Silver is diflblved in Jquafortis^tht Lj. 
quor appears tranfparent ; but if thin copper- 
plates be put to this clear folution, the Aqua 
fortis diffolves them, and lets fall the Silver, in 
powder, to the bottom. If now to the clear 
green folution of Copper, plates of Iron be 
added, thefe will be diflblved, and the Copper 
be precipitated. This clear folution being 
poured upon Zink, diflblves the Zink and lets 
fall the Iron. Chalk or Crab's-eyes being put to 
this clear folution •, thefe are diflblved, and the 
Zink thrown down. Add Spirit of Urine or 
Sal-ammoniac to this folution, and the earthy 
fubfliance will be precipitated, and the alkaline 
Spirit taken up iri its (lead. Lafl:ly, add Oil 
of Tartar, per deliquium^ or the common lixi- 
vium, and the volatile Spirit will be let go, and 
this be detained *. 

6, From all which we gather, (i) That pure 
Salt is of a fluid confifl:ence. (2) That this Sub- 
ftance is rendered more grofs and denfe, by the 
admixture of terreftrial Aggregates ; and even, 
by a fufficient quantity thereof, fo far overpow- 
ered, as to appear therewith in a folid confiftencc. 

(3) That the Species of Salts alfo vary with the 
fpecific difi^erence of thefe terreft:rial Concretes, 
diflblved and coagulated by this fluid fubftancc. 

(4) And laflily, that thefe terreftrial Concretes 
which fpecificate the Salts, adhere in them,fomc 
joofer and fome firmer than others. 

* See Forrl. §.1. 5. ju 



§,i. Mineral Sabs. 

■ 7. To have a juft Norion of the feveml com-. 
• mon Species of &lcs» according to the foregoing^ 
; Principles, 'tis previoufly neceflarjr to confider' 
\ the nature of Spirit of Sulphur \ which being ge- 
: nuinely prepared, i^as it were the one pure and 
: univerral Salty that, with regard to thedifienent 
: terreftrial or faline Concretes, is as Genus toSpe* 
! cies. 

This Spirit being poured upon Iron or Cbp- 
per, corrodes them into Vitriol ; that is, by the 
interpofition of the fmall metalline particles, it 
isitfelfcondenfed into a folid, tho* not very 
denfe, but pellucid and friable confiftence. 

And fomething like this happens in Mines 
and fubterraneous places, where the fame Spirit 
or fluid Saltjin a feparate ftate, meeting with the 
Ores of Iron or Copper, corrodes them ; or 
rather being colle&ed and detab*d by them, 
and thus interfpers'd among their fmall parts, 
caufes them to appear in the form of native 
Vitriol. 

VITRIOL. 

8. The firft faline Concrete therefore of the ^ 
' Mineral kind^ and what we meet with almoft e- %\ 
very where, is Vitriol, or the univerfal Salt^^ 
coagulated into a folid form with Metals, par- ^^ 
ticularly Iron and Copper. It is ex crafted, ci- 
ther by bare evaporation, infpiffation and cry^ 
ftillization, from mineral Waters, which dif- 
. folvc it in the bowels of the Earth, or elfc it 
^ procured in an artificial manner by calcina- 
f. tion. 

! The method of extrafting it by evaporation 
^d infpijfation is as follows. Such Mineral 
Waters being put into a Copper with a hand- 
bill or two of the Filings of Iron, if required \ 



o Mineral Salts. Partll. 

they are kept boiling, with the conflant addi- 
tion of freih Liquor, till a (kin appears upon 
the Surface % at which time the matter is im- 
mediately emptied into a capacious wooden 
Cooler,, wherein fticks are laid acrofs : then 
the veflel being covered with a coarfe linen 
Cloth, till the Liquor is perfeftly cold; Cry. 
ftals of Vitriol will be found (hot to the fticks, 
the fides and the bottom of the veflel, whence 
they are eafily feparated ; the watry fubftancc 
being firft poured off, and referved for ano- 
ther boiling. 
CalcUu* Vitriol is prepared by Calcination^ either from 
^ the Pyrites, which holds Iron and much Sul- 

phur ; or from the Ore of Copper, that has a 
copious Sulphur interfperfed among it. Pro- 
per parcels of either are thrown into a calcin- 
ing Furnace, and made red-hot with the flame 
of an open Fire ; in which ftate they are raked 
out, and immediately thrown into or quenched 
with Water ; and afterwards expofed to the 
Air of a /hady place. 

Some kinds of flinty Stones have this parti- 
cularity, that they do not require a previous 
• ignition •, fuch are thofe of Salfeldy or the Mi- 
nera Martis Solaris % but barely by being long 
expofed to the air in a fliady place, they yield 
an efllorefcence ; and at length, or in more 
than a year's time, are almoft: wholly convert- 
ed into pure green VitrioL 

Thus likewife when the Stones are calcined, 
in the manner above mentioned, and expofed 
to the air ; the moifture that comes at them, 
caufes a vitriolic efilorefcence : But both re- 
quire to have their fuperfluous mineral parts 
feparated by Decodion and Cryfl;allization. to 
bring them into pure Vitriol. 



§.i« Mineral Salti4 

t o. B6th in the purified and unpufified V\ 
this is remarkable, that if in a dofe i^zct^ \ 
a Retort, or the like, it be kept firom a toe 
communication with the Air, and it. be hi 
urged with a (Irong fire, its faline part, ii 
purity and due quantity, is verydifficuldy 1 
rable \ and that for the following Realbns. 
(i) CruJe yitriol hting dqgg'd with ir. 
fixM metalline parts, if a ftrong Fire be 
denly apply*d thereto, the confUtuent aqw 
particles, hot only of the cryftdls, but alfi 
the Salt, as this confifts of Earth and Wa 
will be vehemendv propelled with a i 
greflive motion \ out the terreftrial part 
Saks, being ofitfelf, and without the conjui 
tion of Water, lefs moveable j and in this a 
other like cafes, detained by ftill groffer n 
tulline particles adhering to them ; it happc 
that the other conftifuent part of the Vitriol 
forced away by the violence of the motio 
whilft the more lubtile earth remains intermix' 
with the more grofs metallic one, 

(2) But thefe grofs parts being in great mea 
fure feparated from the yUriol by depuration 
it happens that the finer terreftrial parts llil. 
adhering to the faline ones, which are now vio- 
lendy moved by the fire, both are driven Over 
together ; whence the Salt is not obtained pure, 
but mixed with metalline parts ; which is the 
cafe in the common Spirit and Oil of VitricL 

1 1 . But if the Vitriolht firft gently calcined to 1 
a white flower, and fo reduccKl into parts fuffi- J{ 
ciendy fmall, then put into a flat-bottoriiM Re- 
tort ; and this be gradually warhied in a Sand- 
heat, if (he Retort be ofGiafs, or a fofc naked 
Fite, if the Retort be of Earth 5 and if this gentle 

;ree of l>eat be continued for foma ^Vmt^ %. 
G 2 ^^^- 



Mineral a«'«- ^^ „*, 

.V fobftin* ,h. feme *'• 

moft V^% ^reiver \ ^"^ \ ^ Retorts o^^ ^-, f«. I 
S» the l^l^ '» ;L »W Vra«t,^ f; ] 



to be ot a v-*- V _ t\^e woui^ -r- 
B^"'* J differs 6'^^jjfts. .'r**"^;^]?* P 



§.i. Mineral Salts. 

yet differs very widely from the common S 
ric of Vitriol, which is driven over by a viol 
Fire*, whence this alfo, as we lately obierv 
comes to beniixMwith metalline parts*. 

This difference appears from the manner 
preparing that volatUeSpirityWhichdependsup 
repeated cohobadon \ for a volatile Spirit, n 
the fame indeed with our volatile Spirit abo 
deferibed, yet nearlyof kin thereto, being o] 
tainM by a gentle heat, it is returned upon tl 
Capt viortuumv or the remaining metallic pov 
der, and for the fame tim*: digefted with th 
fame gentle heat, in order to procure an attp 
tion or inteftine commotion and comnlinudoi 
of the mecalline particles % which by this mean 
become more moveable, fo as at length to h< 
intimately mix'd and moved alot^ with the 
Spirit, and even to pafs over in. diftillatjon 
with it. To effeft which more fully, the co- 
hobation, digeftion and diftillition are rcpe;it* 
cd eight or ten times over, or more. 

13. The commbn Sprit of Vitriol is made, in 
the common method, thus. The /^i/nW, being : 
firft calcined to whitenefs, or feparated from its 
phlegm, is put into a ftrong earthen Retort, and 
cxpofed to a naked Fire; the degree whereof is the 
utmoft the Receiver will well bear. And thus 
whilft by the aftibn of the Fire, the faline parts are 
driven over, fome of the more grofs metallic ones 
jflfo are plentifully raifed, and carried along with 
*them, inform of^ a white vapour, which fills the 
whole Receiver with Clouds, till by degrees they 
condenfe into Sweat and Drops at the fides •, or 
fometimes Water is lodg'd in the bottom of the 
Receiver, to abforb and condenfe thcfe vapours 
the fooner. If this Receiver (hould prove too fniall, 
_ G3 ^^ 

/ * Sec f. to. of this Sc£lioa. 



6 Mineral Saks, Part II. 

or the vapours be too forcibly jdrlven over, fo as 

that they cannot be condcnfec! faft enough, there 

is danger of its burfting, by theelaftic force, un- 

lefs a vent-hole, about the fize of aftraw, be left 

in the luting ; at which if the vapour iffues with 

a hilling noife, 'tis a fign it comes too foft, and 

that the fire ought to be checked a little, 

taUic 1 4. The pnetalline part that enters the Con^po- 

^^Z fition of Vitriol^ is obtained or feparated from it 

^. by DiJfoluHon or PredpUafio;?. Of this Diflblu- 

tion, or the fimple depuration of Vitriol, we have 

already fpoke *. 

In the way of Precipitation, the Copper \% 
had out of blue Vitriol, by boiling Iron-plates 
er filings with it ; for in this cafe, as the mole- 
eulcs of the Vitricl^ containing particles of Cop- 
per, difTolve Iron more eafily, and adhere to 
it more clofcly than to that, they let the cu- 
preous particles fall to the bottom. 

At the fiime time alio the Vitriol of Copper 

is chang'd into a Vitriol of Iron-, for if the 

quantity of Iron- filings be confiderable, and 

the boiling be continued for a day or two, all 

the Copper will be precipitated,, and Iron alone 

• diflblvcd in its Head •, fo that a jpure Vitriol of 

•' • iron may be thence eafily had. *Tis a fign 

the Pi^codlion is fufficiently impregnated with 

, the Iron, when upon dipping a polifti'd fteel 

plate into it, ther^ appear tiQ marks of Cop- 

i per thereon. 

The Iron is precipitated from the common 

green Vitriol^ by the addition of Oil of Tartar 

per^ dciiquhan^ or any alkaline body-, as we 

. learn from the Foundations of Precipitation, 

formerly luid down ||. By this means the Iron 

, falls t-otlje bpttQm, in.forrn of a Powder, 



I — . - -_ 

J §.i. Mineral Salts. 

] at Brft appears black, but red after be 

dried and edulcorated. This by Ibme is i 
\ led Sulphur otPitriol^ but unjiiftly i with m 
I propriety 'tis called the dulcmed Earth 

yitriol I or ftill more properly dulcified C 
: CHS Martis : (ot the internal and external n 

dicinal ufes whereof, fee Etmuller^ dc Prect 

tantibus. 

ALUM. 

\ 15, Alum In its manner of preparation conn 
next to Vitriol ; as confifting of the fame lali 
Principle, but united to a different alkaline < 
earthy Body. For inftead of a metallic earth,whic 
enters the compofition of Vitriol, Alum has 
chalky earth, refcmbling Lime-ftone \ which a 
hering much more intimately with the acid Salt 
and indce J clogging it in a greater quantity, the 
are very difficultly leparuted by the impulfiv 
motion of the Fire •, fmce by a great violenc 
thereof, the faline part, as we lately obfervcd ir 
Vitriol *, is deflroy'd in its mixture by the eva- 
poration of its water ; and thence the fine and 
proper earthy part comes to be detained in the 
groffer and lefs proper. 

'Tis in vdin therefore to expeft a Spirit 
from common Alum^ or die feparation of its 
faline part, without the affiftance of cryflal- 
lization, by means of the finer Waters ; or 
elfe the interpofition of fome groffer terreflrial 
body, capable of dividing and difcontinuing 
the concrete powerfully, and this in a proper 
degree of Fire. 

G 4 16. 



/ Sec f . 10. & 13. of thisScftion. 



Mineral Salts. Part H 

hu^ 16. The connexion of this faline and earthy 
Concrete is cafily diflblvcd by fix*d alkaline Salts \ 
but more fubtily by the volatile urinous ones. 

Oil of Tartar per deliquium^ or the com- 
mon alkaline lixivium, being poured to a So- 
lution of Jlum ; the alkaline particles by this 
means are combined with the acid ones of the 
^lum 9 which being difpofed to unite more 
firmly and intimately with thofe, they drive 
their former affociatcd terreftrial particles of 
the Alum from their places •, and thefe now 
f oming together in larger clutters, firft muddy 
the liquor, and afterwards fall to the bottom, 

Upon the fame account is the Earth of 
/ jilum precipitated by volatile urinous Alka- 
lies. And this in fome meafure happens in 
the original and common way of preparing 
y^lum -, when Urine is poured upon it, in or- 
der to fcparate the more grofs terreftrial parts, 
which wou*d otherwife hinder its cryftalline 
tranfparency. 

And hence proceeds that ftrong urinous 
fmell when Jlum is precipitated by fix*d al- 
kalies i the connexion of the volatile alkali 
being loofen'd in the coalition of the fixM. 

NITRE. 

wi^af^ 17. Next to Alum fuccceds A7/;r, a Salt 

^^ra- compofed of an oily and faline, volatile Mixt, for 

^'^"a certain eflcntial part, which is concentrated 

in the general Salt above-mcntion'd, and, with 

the concurrence of a very fubtile alkaline Earthy 

formM into a cryftalline Confiftcnce. 

This appears from its common Method of 
Generation •, as being ufually found in fuch 
j:l.ices where animal fubftances or cxcremcr 



§,i. Mineral Saks, 

have been dei>ofited The earth of fuch pUoa 
being dug up and fteeped for fome hours in 
warm Water, communicates its nitrous poita 

thereto. 

Tliis Solution being drawn off clear, aiid 
put into a Boiler of Copper, Iron or I^ead, 
and evaporated till a drop of the Deco£tion 
let fall upon a cold Iron, will prefently con- 
crete into a foftifti faline fubftance ; the whole 
quantity is now immediately to run into a 
wooden Cooler, fix'd in the Ground, or other- 
wife fet in a cool place -, by which means the 
Nitre that was contained in the Earth, coa- 
gulates into clear and regular Shoots. 

We may therefore conclude from the place 
wherein mtre is generated, tliat its greateft 
part confifts in a certain Principle of an oily^ 
faline and volatile Subftance. I confine it to 
the Principle of this Subftance, and not to the 
Subftance itfelf *, becaufe Oil and volatile uri- 
nous Salt, or their qualities, fuch as inflam- 
mability and extreme volatility, are not found 
in Nitre : it muft therefore be fome effential 
part of this oily, faline Subftance, and not the 
whole Subftance itfelf, that here contributes. 
Even Oils themfelves are certain Mixts confift- 
ing of a very fubtile Earth (which we have 
formerly called Earth of thcfecond Principle *) 
combined with Water ; which Earth is alfo» 
though in a more grofs manner, contained in 
volatile, urinous Salts, as well as in unftuous 
Acids. This Earth therefore probably con- 
curs to conftitute Nitre from volatile Oik ; 
after the connexion it formerly had with Wa- 
ters, comes to be diffolved. 

i8. 

f^cPml^.i. f.30. 



10 Mineral Baits. Part II. 

thing 18. The manner of this Generation is likc- 
rl^rl wife confirmed by another Experiment. For if 
' the volatile Spirit of Vitriol *, together with the 
urinous Spirit of Tartar, be poured to any bal- 
famic \'cgetablc Eflfence \ genuine cryftals of 
Nitre will be thence produced ; viz. by a coali- 
tion of that pure Acid, with the. volatile? unc- 
tuous Subftance of the Spirit of Tartar, or rather 
with fome part of this Subftance. 

So likewife if common Salt be included in 
an unglazed earthen Tube, which has both 
its ends clofed ; and tliis Tube be hung up 
in a fhady place, and moderately fprinkled 
with ftalc Urine every other day \ its fur 
face will in time appear, as it were, fponta- 
neoufly covered with a certain white downy 
Subftance, which is nothing elle but a part 
of the contained Salt diflblved by the moi- 
fture of the Urine, and fweating through the 
pores of the Tube, But at the. fome time it 
docs this, it abforbs fome part of the fubftunce 
of the earthen Tube, and together with the 
faline undluous matter of the urine, concretes 
into Kure. 

Something like this alfo happens when Bricks 
are frequently fprinkled over with recent Urine, 
or fuch I i IS firft made thick with the excre- 
ments of cnimals y the Bricks lying expofed 
to the free air of a fhaciy place. 

There is ftill another Method of generating 
Witre^ depending upon the h\\\t foundation. 
Tjiis only requires that any bitter Herbs, which 
abound with a grofs Oil, be boiled in hun^^n 
Urine, and a quantity of the Decoftion b|: 
daily poured upon a inaded piece of Ground. 
Or the trouble of the Decoftion may be lav^ 



♦ Sqq f . 1 1 . of this Seftioa, 



I, Mineral Salts. 91 

and the bare urine be poured upon a fpot of 
Ground that is frequently dungM and tem- 
pered with fuch herbs. 

19^ It is much more difficult to obtain the p^^^^^. 
Vinciples of Nitre by Refolutien\ nay almoftuon^^w 
upoffible, by the common Methods hitherto ^'•^jj'>{^^^^ 
:nown. tion. 

By diftillation however it affords a Spirit, 
which paffes into the Receiver in the form of 
red Fumes \ but when collefted into Liquor, 
it exhibits this colour no longer. 

Every common fix'd Alkali will fhew us 
the Principle of its cryftallization. For if 
to this Spirit of Nitre be poured a Solution of 
Salt of Tartar, or common Pot-afh, till no 
more ebullition arife -, the liquor by evapora- 
tion and cryftallization (hoots again into pcrfcd: 
Nitre. 

20, In like manner, if common Pot-alhes be, 
during the Spring-feafon, expofcd to the air of ' , 
\ fhady place, they firft relent •, and after fome 
iays or weeks, grow dry again \ at which time 
being boiled and cryftallized as above-mention'd*, 
they yield genuine Nitre. 

But the Nitre is not here generated •, this 
was done before ; and being now every way 
difFufed, and wandering in the form of Spirit 
through the Air, it is catch*d and detained by 
the fix*d Salt of the Pot-alhes, and thus coa* 
gulated into a folid cryftallineSubftance. 

Much in the fame manner Nitre is found to 
concrete in dry Vaults and other arched places •, 
where a certain downy matter, and often, ac- 
cording to the feafon of the year, larger Icicles, 

are 

t Sec 5. ij. of this Scftion, 



)2 



Mineral Salts. Part II. I \ 



arc obfcrv^d to hang pendulous from the mor- 
tar, or junfturcs of the (tones, efpccially : ac- 
cording as the Nitre at that time floating in 
the air, enters the calcarious matter, and with 
it fixes into a folid Subflance, after tiie man- 
ner before obferved of Alum *. 

We are alfo to obferve, that th'is is a kind 
ofwildiVif/r^, more coarfe than the foffil. 

21. The cryftalline Subftance and texture of 
Nitre is refolved with greater eafc, by fepai:ating 
its terrellrial particles, wherewith it came into a 
folid form, and which arc in but very fmall pro- 
portion. 

This is efFedted two different ways. The 
firft by diftending and dividing the Nitre itfdf 
by means of fome dufty earth, whofe mokculae 
therefore do not cohere clofely together •, 
whence all the more fix'd particles of the Nitre 
are in their agitation clogged, and kept down 
by the copious interpofition of dill more im- 
moveable earthy particles amongft them-, whilll 
the more moveable faline particles being dri- 
ven thro* this porous earth with a fufficiently 
intenfe Fire, pafs over in their purity : Whereas 
if the Nitre were by itfelf committed to. diftil- 
lation, a gentle degree of heat wou*d raife 
litde or nothing from it, and a more intenfe 
one wouM melt it •, upon which, all its parti- 
cles, being rather agitated by an inteftine mo- 
tion, wouM be but (lowly moved and lepa- 
rated from one another by progreffive motion. 
But this is effcflually prevented by the inter- 
mediation of fo many immoveable earthy 
particles. 

Tiie 

f ■ ■ I '■ ■ I II III — — — ^"^ 

♦ Sec ^.if. of this Sv<JUoa, 



J. Mineral Salts. 

The fecond way depends upon abforbini 
the Earth of the cryftalUite mtre^ by mean 
of a more violent Corrofive« This is pw 
formM by Oil of Vitriol \ which being a moi 
violent Acid, diflfolves the cryftals of Nitre u 
fuch a manner, as powerfully to abfbrb diet 
coc^ulating, earthy, and contolidadng alkalim 
fubftance ; whence the faline part of the Nitn 
is rendered fluid, fet at liberty, andreftoredto 
its volatility. 

22. There are two Experiments which dc- 
aionftrate this •, one whereof Ihews the thing it- 
felf, and the other its foundation. 

The fi'-ft is this. To a pound of powdered 
Nitre put into a Cucurbit, add three or four 
ounces of well-reftified Oil of Vitrbl •, or 
even lefs might ferve •, (hake them together, 
and diftil in Sand : where, with the fame de- 
gree of heat as ferves to refkify fimple Spirit 
ot Nitre^ already diftilPd, the Spirit will be 
made to rife from this cruds Nitre. 

The fame thing has for many years been daily 
obfervable in the common dillillation o^Aqua 
fortisy which when rightly prepared is a very 
pure Spirit of Nitre, For this purpofe the 
Nitre is mixM with Vitriol calcined to rednefs, 
which here afts in the fiime manner as the 
Oil of Vitriol. 

The ficondj which (hews the foundation of 
the Operation, is as follows. To an ounce 
of Vitriol calcined to rednefs, and put into 
a crucible, add two, three, or four ounces of 
Nitre fucceffively, whilft the crucible is de- 
tain d in a coal-fire ; where let it remain till 
the ebullition ceafes, and no more yellow 
fumes appear, or till fuch time as tlie mat- 
^^0 whhout rhefc phaenomena^ Vvas couuw^^^ 



4- . Mineral Salts, Part 11. 

to glow gently for a minute or two. Then 
let it be taken out, diflblved in water, filtred, 
and after a flow evaporation, be fet to (hoot; 
and in about eight days time there will cry- 
ftals appear. Again, talce of the fame com- 
mon calcined Vitriol, diflblve it in a lixivium 
of Salt of Tartar, filtre the Liquor, and cry. 
ftallize it in the fame manner. The cryflals 
in both cafes appear to be f6 perfeftly the 
fame, in figure, weight and tafte, that it couM 
not be fufpeftcd they were obtain^ by diffe- 
rent operations. 

ether 2 3. Thc fluid Nitre fet free from its coagu- 

r'^^i^rri luting carth, and commonly called Spirit ofNitu, 

^Aqua*^ as prepared in the two ditferent methods above 

"• delivered, with a dufly Earth or Bole, and m\ 

calcined Vitriol, is generally thought to differ 

gready, in that the Spirit of the Vitriol eafily 

mixes with the Spirit of the Nitre in the diftilla- 

tion, whence infteadof a fimpje Spirit it becomes 

compounded ; fo that fomc chemical Phyficians 

are very fearful of fubftituting Aqua fort'n for 

Spirit of Ni trey and others of ufing them at all in 

the fame manner. 

The truth of the Cafe is this. If for thc 
preparation of ^ji^^/(7r//j the white or fome- 
what yellow Calx of Vitriol be made choice 
of, *tis certain that fome part of the finer Spi- 
rit of Vitriol, ftill plentifully remaining in that 
Subftance, will be mix*d with the Aquafortis- 
But this inconvenience may be avoided three 
different ways-, viz, (i.) By taking fuch Vi- 
triol as is duly calcined to rednefs •, which may 
be done fo as to retain and concentrate its 
Spirit, provided it be intcnfely urged ir 
crucible with a quick open fire •, wheno 
vohtlk faiine part being more intima*"' 



J, I. Mineral Salts. 

into the metalline particles, 'tis the ftr<xi^ 
detained thereby, and fo yields more flowly 
to the heat, 

(4.) The fame end is anfwered by ufing 
burnt Alum inftead of Vitriol : for as fuch 
AUim detains its own falinc part fo firmly, 
_ as not to let it go in a violent fire 5 there is 
the lefs danger it ihould part with it by the 
gentle heat required in this operation \ wherein 
the whole matter docs by no means vifibly 
glow. 

(3.) If the Spirit of Nitre prepared with Vi- 
triol, and commonly called Aqua for its ^ is 
propofeJ to be proved or clearM of its vi- 
triolic parr, got into it by the error above-men- 
rionM •, this may be eafily eflfcAed fi-om the 
foregoing Dodtrine. Thus, the phlegm being 
drawn oft' from fuch Spirit in Balneo Maria^ 
the Spirit of Vitriol, if any remains, will be- 
come fo much the more ponderous and im- 
moveable. Then a fmall proportion of crude 
Nitre being added, the grofs Spirit of Vitriol, 
if there be any, will fill upon it, diflblve it, 
and become futurated with its earthy part ; 
whence alfo it becomes heavier and more 
flow to motion -, fo that the Spirit of Nitre 
may now, by the heat of Sand, be driven 
over pure. Though tliere is no occafion for 
redification, if the A^ua fort'n^vo^ok^ to be 
purified in this manner, were not diftillM with 
ii ftrong Fire, or in tubulated vcfTyls. 

It may be farther oblervcd, that if fuch 
^fm fortis Ije driven over with a ftrong Fire, 
this efrcft will follow -, that the grols and more 
immoveable part of the Vitriol will alfo be 
forced over ; which docs not afterwards rife 
with a hghter, or even a confiderably ijucnfc 
heat, unlds it be fifft diffolved iu a lAr\s^ v^^** . 

o uav\ 



3i6 Mineral Salts. Part II. 

tion of phlegm. Whereas the Spirit of Sea- 
fait, how much foever it be aephlegm'd, 
yields to a much leis heat. In order there- 
fore to purify fuch a tn\x*d ^qua fortis^ % 
proper firft fimply to dephlegm it, whence 
the grofs Spirit of Vitriol will acquire a greater ! 
ponderofity, and then to reftify it with a gen- 1 
tie fire •, which will drive over only the Spj. j 
fit of Nilrey leaving the Spirit of Vitriol be- 1 
hind, as immoveable with that degree of heat. 
All that has been hitherto faid of the Acid 
latent in Vitriol and Aliim, muft be likewife 
underftood of the Spirit of Sulphur •, which 
being poured upon Nitre^ diflblves its alkaline 
parr ; thus leaving the Spirit at liberty to be 
driven over by the bare heat of Sand. 

pro^r^ 24. *Tis farther obfervable of this Spirit of 
F« V Nitre^ that being poured upon the more foluble 
Met7is n^^^^ll^"^ Bodies, it conceives an intenfe degree of 
* heat with them •, and at the fame time that its 
grofler part diflblves the body, its more fubtilc 
part evaporates in fume ; wnich being catchM 
in a fuitable veflel, condenfes again into a liquor, 
or an exceedingly volatile and penetrating Spirit 
of Nilrcy that is found to have carried oif along 
with it fome wonderfully fine attenuated parti- 
cles of the Metal •, of which Becher propofes a 
moft remarkable Example in his Pbyjica Subter- 
ranea *. But what this author there obferves of 
Copper, fucceeds alfo in Iron, and particularly with 
Bifrnuth or Zink i to which, if Spirit oi Nitre be 
poured, it emits moft copious fumes ; fo that the 
operation (hou'd be performed in a convenient vef- 
lel, by dropping in a little of the Spirit at the tinfic, 
and catching the fumes in an empty Receiver, t 
is, fuch an one as has no water in its cavity * 



* ^^.*Z^ Cap. a. §,ii8. 



§,1, Mineral Saks. 

inftead thereof has its belly plunged in col 
Water. 

25, KunkelyfoaXA fliew by Bcpcrimcnt, th: 
fluid M/r^, or the common Spirit ofNilre^ con 
tains much of a terreftrial fubftance ; becaul 
Mercury being dUIblved therein, and the Spiri 
afterwards diftiird off from it in a Sand-heat 
when the remaining fubftance comes to be igni 
ted in a crucible, the Mercury evaporates, anc 
leaves a white fix'd earth behind it. But farthei 
experience muft determine whether this remaining 
Earth be not from a certain metallic fubftance, 
produced by means of an aftual fixation or change 
of the Mercury. Tho* it is indeed certain that 
Spirit of M/r^, digefted with Spirit of Wine, and 
afterwards diftill'd over again, in order for Sfi^ 
rim Nitridulcisj leaves an earthy matter at the 
bottom -, with which I could wifh thofc who 
have the opportunity, would make experiments, 
to difcover of what nature and origin it is. 

COMMON SJLT. 

26. Next to Nitre comes ComvioJt Salt^ of^, 
which there are three kinds ; viz. Spring-Salt^ Sea- Si 
Sail, and Sal-Gem, or Rock-Salt. *' 

That of iS/m^j appears to be the pureft* 
That of the A>^ is fuppofed to abound greatly 
in Nitre : to which the difficulty of extin- 
guifhing a Ship on fire in the middle of the 
Ocean is attributed by Sailors ; who agree, that 
this Water, upon account of its nitrous parts, 
rather increafes than extinguifhesFire. Whence 
it is no wonder, that the Spirit drawn from 
the Salt of Hamborough, and other the like 
maritime places, (hould diflblvc Gold i fuch 
Spirit on account of the nitrous particles in 
rte 5i7f^ approaching thcnAUueo^ Ai^iia reg^a* 



^ir. 



Mineral Salts. Part II. 

The Nitre however inherent in Sea-falt, 
may by fuitable operations be commodioufly 
feparated from it; though this be generally 
efteemed a curiofity rather than-an advantage. 

The Inhabitants of the Sca-coafts, who are 
deftitute of Spring-falt, dig themfclves tren- 
ches in fuch places as lie open and well-ex- 
pofed to the rays of the Sun, then direftly 
fill them with Sea-water ; which the Sun*s heat 
partly evaporates, and the fandy Soil partly 
drinks up; fo as to leave the more grols, fa- 
line I'ubftance behind in the trenches* And thus 
the work is repeated till they have obtained a 
fulHcient quantity of dry Salt. 

Rock'Sait^ Sal-Gem^ or Foffil-Salty taking 
to itfelf a large proportion of rocky earth, or 
ftony fubftance, thence becomes much more 
hartl and grofs than Spriiig-llilt or Sea-falt. 
And if by elixation it be freed from this grofs 
earthy part, it comes rather into a confufed 
mafs than any cryftalline form. 

riai 27. As to the Eflence of common or pure Sprini" 
^'* Salty irs Principles, according to metallurgic 
pha^nomcna, may be rcfer*d to the common ge- 
nerical or univcrlal Sc:lt above-mentioned, pof- 
feffing the third or the fpecific metalline Earth, 
which is intimately combined therewith, . 

But the Mixture of this Salt, as well as the 
tcx.ureof all the otherSaks hitherto mentioiAi, 
is too clofc to be readily diflblved by the 
common Methods of operation •, and not with- 
out precipitations, ufcd after long continued 
digeuions", and thofc effeftcd by means of uri- 
nous Spirits, or principally of highly reftificd 
Spirit of Wine, either alone, or join'd with 
-Spirit of Sal-ammoniac. 



§.i. Mineral Salts. 

rit of Nitre, intermix*d with metalline parti 
clcs i from which however it may be fitcc 
by admitting the Air to it) in a proper yef 
fei ; fo as that being thereby tum'a into fume, 
it may pafs over into a Receiver^ and leave its 

. metalline fedinient behind. 

This may be commodioufly effefted by 

pouring the Spirit into a fmall Cucurbit, whole 

alembic head is luted on with Bees-wax. This 

fli|:de(2.MCHpbicis to hayc;^^^^^ in its belly , a 

;;;|!ij:ik|^^ containM|m$^r^^ fitted with 

thpj^^'ihj,^ p'nly a little whereof being let in at 
QocW wSIraife a copious fi^me i at which time 
the /.external orifice of the tube is to be (hut 
with the finger, till the fmoke arilihg -into the 
head, and thence coming into the Neck and 
the Receiver, is there again xrondcnfcd in the 
form of drops ; which thusi by frequently ad- 
mitting the Air in the fame manner^ will bcr 
.tome the purified and ftrangely volatile Lkiuor 
required. 

/SA L.'^J M'M N 1 A C. 

31. We have hitherto difcourfed of vari- 
ous Bodies, wherewith volatile acid Salts are ufed 
to coalefce into a much more fix'd, and folid 
SAjbftance ; and among xh^fe we have aflign'd 
as it were the firft plagi^Vjc^^a certain fubtilized 
Earth, or extrfcmely fine catairious flower, which 
being lixiviated out of Vegetables attpr incinera- 
tion, is called by the name oi alkaline Salt. We are 
|Vxt in order brought to confidcr fuch a kind of 
: %th combined with an oilySubfta nee \ which com- 
• bination is commonly called by the name oivola- 
^'^^6 urinous Salt : TheSubttance whereof Ueaf\l^ 
^^otnbined with acid Salts,, bv reafon ol xt^ v^^^^-; 
H 3 ^"^'^^^ 



Mineral Salts. PartIL 

ftrial alkaline part •, of which, together with Oil, 
it is compofed: But as Oil has the greateft (hare 
in the compofition, it coheres the loofer with the 
forefaid acids, and is the eafier thruft away and 
feparated from the alkaline earth, 
mno- This Combination of fuch a volatile, oily, 

Jj3^ and acid Subftance is ufually made of com- 
mon Sale and Urine, with the addition of 
a little Soot. Thefe materials are boiled to- 
gether ; whence the acid of the common Salt 
lays hold of the volatile Salt of the Urine and 
Soot; and together with them unites into a folid 
fubftancc, of a mean degree of volatility, the 
grofler earth being herq excluded. Such a 
compound Salt is called by the name of 5^/- 
ammoniac^ and ferves for various chemical ufes. 
For farther Direftions about the Preparation 
wher/iof, fee Zwelfer^s Confutation ofTacbmusy 
Part III. cap. ii. 

mit^'J 3^. This compound Salt upon repeated Subli- 
^!i^ mations, fufficiently manifefts its origin to be 
''"**" from a volatile oily Salt •, for by this means it 
not only changes its white, tranlparent and fa- 
line form, for a yellow, red or rather an orange 
colour i but alfo its fmell, which before was 
imperceptible, but now confiderably putrid. 
This Salt fublimed into fuch a yellow, mealy 
Subflance, is called Flozvers ofSal-ammoniaCf 
being nothing but the Sal-ammoniac itfelf more 
intimately united and commix'd -, and having 
this additional property, that it will now run 
per deliquium into a liquor in a moift pl^cc. 
This alio is farther remarkable of it, that b^' 
repeated Sublimations it fcems to become 
more fixed Subflance ; fo that when the fire 
applied thereto, it rather remains in a flu^ 
gHh half^Md ilate, thanlubW 
Vf the vciTcl, 



tMiiom, 



\ rt. Mineral Salts. 

i "^ •■■■■■ ■ 

j 33. The Combination of the component pa; 
; of this Salt is likewife cafily fcparatcd by mixii 
; a matter therewith, which diflblves ftill mo 

'..':. readily in acid Salt. 

J Such in particular is the more fubtilizc 

■ part of Quick-lime, or what is ftill finer, fix* 
I alkalies. Upon the addition of cither of thefc 
i the acid Salt Joins itfclf more clofely thereto 
\ and thus looiens the connexion of the volatil 

,ii alkali. 

i This volatile alkali properly appears in x 

\ folid form, and is called volatile urinous Salt 
I but if by the admixture of a little fine phlegn: 
\ it be diflblved into a Liquor, thb Liquor is 
\ called Spirit of Sal-ammoniac. 

. \ If inftead of the fix'd alkaline Salt, a more 

\ terreftrial concrete, fuch as Quick-lime in par- 
ticular, were here made choice of, the vola- 
tile Salt wouM become furprizingly more pun- 
gent, and being diflblved in 9 little phlegm, 
turn to a perfeftly catiflic Spirit \ which is cal- 

; led Spirit of Sal-ammoniac for external ufe^ and 

\ ferves along with unftions in nervous cafes. 

34. Some endeavour to prepare an acid Spirit^ 
from Sal-ammoniac •, but this can never be ob- £ 
tainM, unlefs its volatile urinous part be firft/^ 
feparated. Now if this be done by the means 
of Quick-lime, the Qiiick lime adheres fo ftrong- 
[ Iv to the acid of the S.ilt, as not without great 
difficulty to be got from it again; But if it 
be done by the means of a fix'd Alkali, viz. 
Salt of Tartar or Pot-afh, thefo concretes indeed 
ftill more intimately unite with the acid of com- 
mon Salt i yet fo as by diftiilation to let go an 
acid Spirit of Salt, though not in the lame fub- 
ftance it exifted in the Sal-ammoniac^ but u\ ouc 

that is much more pure and k\V)u\^. 

11 4 ^x:^ 



Mineral Salts. Part II. 

But if any one requires the acid part of 
Sal-ammoniac in. the fame fubftance as it con- 
curs to the conftitution thereof, let him take 
the Spirit of common Salt •, or, if it be re- 
quired more pure than 'tis found in that Com* 
pofuion, the Spirit that is obtained by diftil- 
ling the Caput mortuumj after the volatile Spi- 
rit of Sal-ammo fiiac is feparated from it by' the 
fix'd alkaline Salt : this Caput mortuum when 
dry,being mix'd with thrice its weight of Bole, 
and diftiird in an earthern Retort, with a 
naked Fire, in the fame manner as cofnmon 
Spirit of Salt. 

^ent 35, Sal-amfnoniacj by means of itsfalme, vo- 
tf/tij Utile fubftance, has this farther effc6t, that ic 
other fubtily corrodes fbluble bodies, feparates their 
'' grofler parts, and carries up, or fublimes, along 
v/ith itfelf, die finer parts it had corroded. We 
have examples of this in the preparation of the 
Martial Fiozvers of Sal-ammoniac^ and the Flow- 
ers of Lapis Hamatites ; the firft of which is ob- 

* rained by mixing Iron filings, and the fecondby 
mixing the Powder of the Stone along with Sm- 
ammomac^ and fubliming them together. For thus 
thefe bodies coming to be corroded and attenuated, 
particularly by the acid part of the Sal-avimonicic^ 
they are in this more ilibtilized ftate, interfperfed 
among the other morevolatile parts of the Sale ; 

• whence both are carried up together by the ac- 
tion of the Fire. 

Thus there are fome who fublime the Vi- 
triol of Copper with Sal-ammoniac into a red 
Subftance •, by which means the. metalline parts 
/ of the Vitriol are ftill farther divided and fub- 
tilized. 

In the fame manner red Coral alfo is fon^c- 
tlnies fublimcd with Sal-ammonm^ r 



\' * 



h.i.. Mineral Salts. 

\ obtain a Tin<5hirc» or rathar a more fubdl 
5 folution thereof. 

2 So \iktw\k Sulphur and Cinnabar arc b 
1 fome perfons treated with this Salt, and bpt 
i by that means Aiblimed therewith, into com 
^ pound Flowers j and this with the greater cafe 
i| as thofe bodies arc of themfclvcs naturally vo 
i hitile, 

^lick'filverMAMcrcury-Suhlimate arc by o 
thers treated in-thc fame manner, for difFercni 
purpofes : the principal effedbi if not the inten- 
tion of all which, is the attenuation of fuch 
Bodies. 

36. 'Tis remarkable ofSal-ammoniac that bcii^ 
mix*d with Nitre, and applied to the Fire, it 
take3 a degree of flame, with the free acceflion 
of the Air i but when kept clofe, as in a tubu-, 
laced Retort, it affords a copious fume, which * 
in the Receiver obtains a fluid confifl:ence ; be* 
ing there collefted into a Spirii^ capable of dif- 
. folving and highly attenuating Gold ; fo as by di- 
geftion and repeated cohobation, to raife it in a 
volatile fubftance, and bring it over, along with 
itfelf. 

The preparation of j^qi^a regia^ fo called a? 
being the common folvent of Gold, or the re- 
gal Metal, requires the material concurrence 
oi Sal-ammomac i four ounces whereof are, for 
this purpofe, diflblved in a pound of jiqua 
forth^^ or Spirit of Nitre : and in order to 
combine them the clofer, they may be di- 
ftilled over together -, tho* this is not of ab- 
folute neceffity. 

37' The Attenuation which SaUammoniac gives i 
to Metals, has alio this peculiar, that the J 
M^f3i5 prepared with it, do afterwwd^ x]tv«i c?l^\« 



Mineral Salts. Part II. » 

aiTume a mercurial form, or change into a run- 
ning Mercury. 

There are fome who attribute this to the 
hare refolution of the metals into their moft fub. 
tile parts, by fuch a treatment with Sal-ammo^ 
niac\ but others conceive that a certain parti- 
cle of tlie Sal-ammoniacy or the moft fubtilized 
cflfential earth of common fait, now feparatcd 
from the Sal-ammoniac^ adheres to the Metal, 
and gives it this confiftence. 

Thus much is certain, that tho* the volatile 
urinous Salt, be intimately coagulated with the 
acid part of the5^/-^/;iiwow^f, there is fomcthing 
fartherfeparatedbythisaftion ; whether it pro- 
ceed from the fubltance of the acid, or the vola- 
tileSaltof thecompofition. We have an example 
hereof in the Precipitation of Mercury-fubli- 
mate, dilTol ved in Spirit of Salt. For if fuch a 
folutionbe precipitated by the addition of 5/?/- 
ammoniac J or the volatile Salt of Soot, a fmall, 
exceedingly fubtile, light and fpongy powder 
falls to the bottom •, which is not only con- 
trary to the nature of Mercury, but manifeft- 
ly fliews that fome new acceffion is made in 
this precipitation : but as nothing here inter- 
venes, belides the acid of common Salt, and 
the volatile urinous Salt, this acceflion muft of 
neceffity be attributed to one of them. 

If any metal be ground with Sal-ammoniac, 
and tlie mixture be digefted for fome time, and 
afterwards diftiird with the addition of Salt of 
Tartar ; the urinous Spirit takes to itfelf fome 
part of the metal that is exceedingly artenua- 
ted •, whence if Gold be put into fuch a Spirit, 
it will immediately be whitened over, or wafh'd 
with quick- filver, which the liquor rcccivM f^ota 
the metal -, or by pouring Spirit of Salt to \S* 
liquor, a littk portion of the fame 



i 



k §.i. Fegetable Salts, 

"\ niay be precipitated from it. Something of tin 
1 like kind happens alfoin comnion Sulphur 
for if this be diffolvcd, by boiling in Lime 
water, and the folurion be filter'd, and evapo 
rated to the confiftence of honey, then mix*c 
witji Sal-amnmiact and diftill'd with as ftrong 
a heat as the matter will bear j_ a yellow cp- 
lour'd Spirit will come over, bringing along 
with it a large portion of very fubtilized Sul- 
phur*. And this Experiment fuccecds the 
'? better, if the lixivium of the Sulphur, being 
t firft coagulated to drynels, is afterwards well 
■i moiften'd with Spirit of Wine. 

"a 

i tUEMORE COMPOUNDED, OR 
I ARflFICUL VEGErABLE SALTS. 

'; 38, Thus flir we have taken a View of the Mi- 

■ ncral Salts, as being the more fimplc, and af- 
= fording the foundation of all other faline Con- 
.) cretes ; we now proceed to the Salts of the o- 
\ ther kingdoms, which appear compounded of 

■ thele ; and fhall afterwards come to fuch as 
; are firther made up thereof. Firft therefore w(? 

muft confider what faline matters are aftbrdejd 
by Vegetables 5 and fecondly what by Animals ; 
and laftly what acceflions are made to the quali- 
ties of each refpeftively. 

39* A certain Nitrous Salt is found plentiful- «3 
ly lodgM in a great number of Vegetables, cf- • 
pecially in tlicir more herbaceous parts. But* 
Fruits being more fucculent Concretes, and alfo 
in their ripening exposed to a long digeftion, by 
means 6f the fermentation or inteftine motion con- 
tinued all this while,with the affiftanceof heat, the 
faline parts thus coming to be varioufly combined 
with the more fubtilc oily and earthy particles, 

tkey 



Compound^ or Artificial^ Partll, 

they produce a Salt of a fweet, fharp and pungent 
tafte, 6?r. But when their Juice is exprefs*d, in- 
fpif&ted, and with the concurrence of terreftrial 
Concretes, brought into a dry or perfeftly cryftal- 
line form \ they thus afford a certain /j//»^conv 
pound fubftance. We have two capital Exam- 
ples of thefe different faline Produftions in the pre- 
paration of Sugar and T^artar \ by inquiring in- 
to the analogy whereof, we fhall learn in what 
manner nearly all the other vegetable Salts exift, 
and arc to be procured. 

40. But here it is previoufly neceflliry that we 
a little confider the fimple ftate and original 
rife of thefe Salu. 

In a fimfle ftate we find Salts that are ma- 
nifeftly nitrous, contained in thofe Plants par- - 
ticularly which ^row upon the banks of rivu- 
lets, and in moift places ; fuch is Brooklime 
for inftance : as alfo in thofe that flioot out 
of old Walls and Stones, but efpecially the 
mortar with which they were joinM together ; 
of diis kind is Pcllitory, And the fame may 
be underftood of certain emollient and dcter- 
five Plants, as Mercury, Soap-wort, Mugvvort, 
Wormwood, ^c. 

If a fufficient quantity of highly redified 
Spirit of Wine be poured upon any of thefe 
Plants, in order to extrad: theiroily fubftance 
asmuchas poflible ; and the remaining pbnt 
be afterwards direftly boiled in water, or ra- 
ther firft very lightly and gently calcined, 
it will thus communicate its Salt to the Wa- 
ter i which being now duly evaporated, the 
remainder flioots into nitrous cryftals* 

41, An acetous, acid Salt is found in Fruits, 
efpecially before they quite attain the point 01 
maturation. Sometimeij this Sa\i pxcf 



§. !• Vegetable Salts. 

and aftringent, as we find common in Pears and 
Apples; fomctimcs but litde aftringent, yet 
highly acid, as in Lemmons, Cherries, Currants, 
Barberries, fcfr. In all which the Salt is found 
fo acid, as powerfully to corrode and diflblve 
even metals, but efpecially Iron, as likewife all 
kinds of terreftrial bodies, Corals, Crab*s-eycs> 
Boles, <ii?r. 

42. The more folid fFoods^ as Oak^ Beech% 
&c, likewife almoft all the unripe Fruits, befides 
a faline, have at the fame time a remarkable 
auftere or aftringent tafte : but green Galls, and 
the Husl<:s of Wallnuts contain thk kind of pe- 
netrating Salt more than any other bodies ; and 
accordingly more intimately affcft the tongue, 
and give a much more penetrating tafte. 

The Origin of this auftcrity is the compo- 
fition of a powerful faline Principle, with a 
certain earth, rcfpedively more grofs, by means 
of folution or corrofion. Something of this 
kind is effefted by Art, when Crabs-eyes are 
diffolvedin the Juice of Lemmons ; by which 
means the Juice lofes part of its acid tafte, 
but at the fame time becomes remarkably 
aftringent, fo as greatly to contraft the mouth 
and affeft the tongue, with roughnefs. 

That the Combination of thefe Salts is fome- 
what intimate in the preceding Subjefts, we 
learn from their Decoctions ; which iij a trunf- 
parent form'contain this remarkable aufterity ; 
and by proper inrpiflation conttitucc a faline 
niafs. And of this we have a particular Inftance 
in the Decodtion of comnion Camomile-flow* 
ers i for three parcels thereof being fcverally 
boiled in the fame parcel of Wine, they make 
the Wine tafte as faline as if a confiderable pro- 
portion of common Salt were diflblycd in it *• 

\^^ 

* Sec Simon. ?mili Quadripaiia^ouu^'icCWva^^^^ 



Compound^ ofArtiJiciaU Part II. 

43. Some authors conceive theri is a fubtile, 
alkaline Sale concain'd in moft of the aftringcnt 
vulnerary Plants, fuch as Plantain, Comfrey, iSc. 
becaufe their Dccodtions precipitate acia Solu- 
tions of Metals •, particularly that of Mercury. 
fublimate, made with hot Water, But it deferves 
to be examined, whether a portion of the ex- 
ceedingly fubtile earth of fuch aftringcnt Vege- 
tables does not produce this cfFefti without any 
farther concurrence of their faline part, than as 
it leaves the paflive earth, that was before com- 
bined with it, to a more powerful acid. 

44. 'Tis more probable a iriorii that the Sale 
of fuch Vegetables is rather nitrous ; bccaufc 
pure Nitre, conjoined with a certain fat or oily 
urinous Subftance, caufes Vegetables greatly to 
increafc in growth, according to the obfcrvadon 
ofDigby in hh Dijfcriot -on on the VegeUtion cf 
Plants \ where he not only produces many things 
that favours this opinion, but alfo fliews by Ex- 
ample and Experiment, how by means of Nitre 
he brought a barren field to fuch a degree of 
fertility, that it produced a lurprizingly plenti- 
ful crop-, how Hemp-feed impregnated with a 
nitrous liquor produced fo many Plants, and of 
fuch a nature, that for fize and hardnefs they ra- 
ther rcfembled a little Wood often years grosvth, 
than a field of Hemp •, he adds that theyilill re- 
ferve at Paris a plant, of Barley, which being 
the produce of a fingle Grain, contains 249 Stems 
and Ears, in which Ears they to this day find 
above 18000 Grains of Barley. 

45. As to the more artificial Salts of Vege- 
tables we have already obferved *, that the two 
great examples thereof are Sugar and Tartar \ 
both of them obtained by i\rc, but in a fomewlwt 
dirterent way of working. ^^* 

* ^ec f . 5^. o( ihx^ Scdtion. 



«.!• Vegetable Salts. 

SUGAR. 

46. Suiar i$ a Salt obtain*d by boiling up the 
Juice of the Sugar-Canh but thus without farthei 
addition, it wouM never coagulate into a dry fac- 
cliarinc confiftcncc : and if urged with the fire It 
wouM acquire an empyrcuma, but not the form 
of a Salt. Nay, though it were infpiflated and 
made perfeftly dry by the heat of the Sun, or 
other the like gentle means, its purer and more 
falinc fubftance wouM not even thus be obtained ; 
but only an herbaceous, refinous mafs, in form of 
a folid Extract. Two particular Methods are 
therefore required; (i,) to feparate its hetero- 
geneous parts, or procure its purer fubftance ; 
and (2.) by a material addition to give it a fo- 
lid and dry confiftence. Both thefe ends are ob- 
tained by the means of Quick-lime, as being a 
fubtile tcrrcftrial Concrete -, infipid of itfelf, yet 
of a truly faline nature. 

47, The Foundation of the Operation depends »' 
upon this, that the heterogeneous, refinous and J« 
herbaceous drofly part, imbibed by the5//^^r, asy?; 
it is a certain acetous Salt, be taken out of it, or 
colhxHcd in the way of precipitation, by theQuick- 
hino \ whence the firlt dcfign is anfwer'd : and at 
(ho lame time that this is done, the Lvne as a ter- 
rvthid Concrete, combining itlclf intimately with 
t!'e vN\<,jr, as with a gently corrofive acetous 

v^ lt> gi\x\s it 4 K>livl anvi a dry cvnfiitence. 

4^'* But a total ki\jratio;ri$ ik^: nro.^iir.J byc« 
^^^^ mcam; tor the oily pam are not all thus*^ 
uKvU out i\t^ thCvN'^^<.c»^ ; but the Lime here ra-^ 
^•vr imbilve:^ ^nd tC;m!v vlewi.'iS tSe ci!v 5uS 
<;^->vV : aikI brfuW^ ihiV. vNV; rr i-eli is a Sa!i 



Compound^ or Artifcsalj Part II. I ^ 



gar when burnt does not only yield a very 
difagreeable empyreumatic odour *i but by 
diftillation affords an empyreuoiatical oily fub. 
ftance ; and by fermeJitation, with a fufficient 
quantity of Water, an inflammable Spirit, 

But the crude Sugar that has never been 
refined at all, manifeftly difcovers, both by 
its fmell and tafte, a greater degree of this 
oilinefs, than fuch as has been refined *, and 
rather refembles a mellaginous matter, in a 
dry form, than 5«gar. 

•Tis alfo a manifeft fign of the acidit'^ of 
Sugar, that it affords an acid Spirit by diftit 
lation. A large part of this acid indeed is 
ftrongly combined with, and adheres to the 
fubtile calcarious earth ; but a hrge portion of 
it alfo remaining ftill at liberty, concretes, to- 
gether with that faturated part, into a confi- 
ftent cryfialline form, after the fame manner 
as common Water, with a large proportion 
of a vitriolic Salt, comes into a folid and di)' 
confiftence. This likewife appears plain from 
thofe that indulge themfelves in the frequent 
ufe of Sugar J or things made or mixM there- 
with, who thence come to have their teeth cor- 
roded and made hollow •, as alfo from grinding 
Sugar along with Quick-filver, in order to 
make the Saccharine Powder againft Worms; a 
great part of the Quick-filver being thus cor- 
roded, as it were, by the Sugar, 

49. Hence Sugar ^ by reafon of its oily and 
faline fubftance, in fome refpefts proves a dry 
kind of Spirit of Wine. Thus by being boiW 
along with vegetables, it imbibes their rcfin^ 
and mucilaginous fubftance \ leaving thf 
more unaclive parts untouched. For wl 
fon the S.yuvs prepared in thb 



\ 



§. I. Vegetable Satis. 

fuch very fluggilh medicines \ provided the plai 
whereof they are made, be re.finousand aromad 
In the fame manner diftilPd Oils, whic 
ocherwiie float upon die furface of aqueoi 
Liquors, are by means of Sugar made to mi 
therewith : for fuch oils being dropped upo 
the Sugar ^ and by trituration brought there 
with into an Elasofaccharum ; this readily di( 
folves in aqueous fluids, and thus carries du 
fubftance of the Oils thro* the whole body o 
the liquor. 

50. Sugar is prepared in the following man- 
ner. The Bamboo Canes being ground in a Mill, 
and their Juice exprefs*d, the Juice is immediate- 
ly, for fear it (hou'd cornipt, boiled in copper 
veffelss where the lighter feculendes, of an oily 
ligneous nature, float on the furface in the form 
of fcum •, whilft fuch as are grols and earthy fall 
to the bottom. 

The feparation of them both is promoted 
by a lixivium of Pot-afh or Quick-lime, ufed 
either feparately or conjointly ; for fuch an 
alkaline lixivium meeting with die more acid 
or faline parts of the Sugar^ joins therewith, 
and prefently feparates and difplaces fuch grofe 
terreftrial and oily parts, as they had before 
corroded ; upon which the oily ones rife imme- 
diately to the top, and the others fink to the 
bottom. Thefe drofl)' parts therefore being 
taken away with metalline Skimmers, or per- 
forated Ladles, the liquor is boiled up to a 
due confiftence, then poured into pyramidal 
earthen moulds, and fet in a cold fubterraneous 
place; where having acquired a folid confi- 
ftence, 'tis then expofed to the heat of the 
Sun, and thereby gradually dry'd. For far- 
ther Mruftions about wHvcUm^cu^x^ fe^Gu- 



(; Comfoundy or ArtificialjVsLttll 

Helm. Pifo de Indian occidental, re naturali fc? 
medica^ Lib. IV. Cap. i. and Bartholin. Cent. /. 
£/. 54- 

In order to purify or refine this Su^ar^ it is 
again to be boiled and fcumm'd, with a new 
. or more plentiful addition of the lixivium; 
the operation being thus repeated three or four 
times ; whence the Sugar by bare coagulation, 
in^ a pyramidal form, oecomes not only more 
and more folid» as being now more faturaced 
and intimately combined with the earth ; but 
alfo more white, as being feparated from its for- 
mer grofs and oily refmous fubftance j fo as by 
cryftallization to appear in the form of what 
is called Sugqr^andy. 

JjJ^ 51. And much in the fame manner may a 
hte$ like faline matter be obtained from other fuccu- 
'^ lent Plants and the Juices of Fruits. This has 
**^* been done by gradually infoiflating the exprefsM 
Juices, or Etecoftions of Herbs, made by long 
boiling. Thefe Juices or Decoftions being gently 
evapojated to drynefs, or at lead to a mellagi- 
nous confidence, they are again to be let down 
with Water ; whence an earthy, powdery mat- 
ter will fubfide, and leave the liquor clear j which 
liquor being now evaporated to a third or lefs, 
and fet in a cold Cellar, it will there fhoot into 
cryftals, refembling Tartar or Sugar \ according 
as the Plant abounded with a fliarp, and acid, or 
a milder and mucilaginous Salt or Juice. 
te Ef. Thefe are c^MtdEfentialSalts^ and are fuppo* 

iSaJts. fed to contain the whole effence or conftitution 
of the Plant. But this is not probable, becaufc 
the efficacy of molt plants refides in their rc"- 
nous part, which is generally exceeding fin< 
volatile v and confequently is either total 
in great meafure evaporated by the long^ 



J. I* Vegetable Sahsi 

tinued and inttnfe decoftion here required ; 
neither cou*d much thereof be detain d and 
entangled by io fmall a quantity of Salt ash 
here obtained. 

52. The Ejcampie of .SAfgjr excellently illu- 
ftrates the manner wherein theie Salts are pro- 
duced. That the concretion and folidity of Su^ 
2^r depends upon the admixture of a terreftrial» 
and the feparation of an oUy fubftaiicei is con- 
firmM .from the experitftents obferv^d by 'Pifoi 
in the place above-mention'd. Thus, if a little 
Oil be added to a parcel of Supir already in* 
fpiflatedj and confequently foaming furioufly up 
with art intenfe Fire, the Oil bebg nere violently 
heated, and floating a-top, prefently breaks the 
head, and makes it fall ; but if this Oil were 
added to the Juice whilfl: boiling in a motre fluid 
ftate, the Juice 'tisfaid can never after be brought^ 
by infpiflarion, into the folid confifl:ence of Sugar ^ 
but remains in the form of a Rob ; which how- 
ever might doubtlefs be correfted by the additioa 
of lixivium. This Juice alfo acquires the like in- 
difpofition to concrete, by the admbcture of a lit- 
tle Lcmmon-juice \ which as a more powerful 
folvent corrodes and unites with itfelt a large 
part of the earthy fubftance contained in the 
Liquor \ whence the Sugar ha>ang nothing where- 
with to concrete, remains in a fluid ftate. 

The niiUiner of procuring the other Salts 
now ulually obtainM from Plants, has this dif- 
foanoe, that the Juices preixired by Expref- 
fion, or Decodion, do not from their fub- 
iVanct^ anvl the climate, lo foon corrupt 
as the faccharine liquor, wliich turns fojr 
in t>*'tcnty-tbur houn^ ; tut ar? chritied by 
landing firlV after cxi>reirion, and i^iiv i^r 

1 » ^^:fe:t 



i Compound J or Artificial^ Part It 

• groffer fubftance or vinculum : fo that being 
afterwards concentrated by infpiflation to a ' 

. mellaginous confidence, ana fet in a cold place, 
they there fhoot into cryftals; which being taken 
out, and the remaining liquor again evapora- 
ted and fet by, it now produces lefs pure and 

• lefs elegant cryftals. 

m 53. From what is above delivered, ^tis man!- 
^ feft which Plants are more, and which lefs dif- 
pofcd to afford fuch a Salt ; viz. thofe concretes 
contain or yield it in greateft plenty which are 
Icaft oily, but acid without aufterity ; otherwife 
they do not retain a folid fotm in the cold, or 
where there is a little moifture. But the fweeter 
any Concretes, and at the fame time, the lefs re- 
finous, but rather humid, as is the cafe of all 
fruits, the fitter they are for this purpofe. Thus 
the larger dried Prunes, the Rob of Juniper, 
Elder, i^c. by being long kept after infpiffation, 
manifeftly become fuch a faline or faccharinc 
fubftance, as by proper operations may, for cu- 
riofity fake, be brought to appear in cryftalsof 
as Sugar-Candy. 
»fl' 54. As the parts which conftitute thefe Salts 
are known a priori^ whether they be nitrous, 
acetous, grofsly refinous, or fubtily earthy \ fo 
may they likewife be feparated from one another 
by artificial operations. Thus by Diftillation, 
performed firft with a gentle heat, then with a 
gradual increafe thereof, all thefe Salts, butpar-- 
ticularly Sugar ^ yield firll a ftrong acetous Spi- 
rit, next a liquid rofin in the form of a thick and 
black empyreumatical Oil j a grey-colour*d ma^* 
ter or calcarious earth remaining behind, w 
according to the nature of the Simple, conC 
greater or a lefs quantity of an alkaline 01 
fdturated middle Salt. 



§.i, Vtgetable Salts, \ 

55. A Salt fomewhac like the former, is obtainM 
by concretion from fuch v^etable Juices as arc^ 
manifeftlyfalinCy that is either acid or fweet, but' 
rather from the fweet ; and this in a much lar^r ; 
quantity, if inftead of the boiling above-men-:.' 
tion*d, whereby only a few of the fmall parts/ 
of the whole Juice are driven to concrete, Fer- 
mentmn be employed, which by its gentle, in- 
leftine motion not only produces a firmer, J>ut 
ulfo a much more co[>ious combination. 

This appears plainly in the Juice of Grapes 
or Muft, which by boiling affords only a 
very fmall portion of fqch a faline fubltance, 
and that too with difficulty ; but if by mean$ 
of Fcnn^ntation^ a niore intimate combination 
of the f ilino particles wi:h the earthy, and a 
. fcpararion of the fuperfluous refmoiis, but par- 
ticularly the more grofs (>nes, be procured, a 
nuKh greater portion of Salt will be obtained. 

That this luperfluous refinous Subftance re- * 
flics in Muft, is manifcft from Robof Grapes^ 
\vl;ich is nothing but that Muft highly in- 
JpiiVatal, and apix?aring of a dark or purple 
ivbun This Rob being thoroughly drieil, rea- 
dily takes llime^ and, like all other rofins, in 
v.rcat moafua^dittbhrs in highly rectified Spi- 
ric of Wine ; which futncieady dcmonftrates 
it^ refinous or fai>oiuceous nature. 

5^* And as by Fennenutkvi the more grols 
tmtrtrial, u^^iCKT wita the fjixrrf>:oc$ refnous 
Pirt$» are, in lorm ot^a bi:uxboc> ca::th* thrown 
iowa to the boitv^ii^ un^irr ;he oi::^ c^" Wme- 
^^s tSeKsjMrftvXut:^ jiKn^r. SNXV.>;r^JLlr;::V.b 



Compound^ or ArtiJiciaU Part II. 

as being now freed from its over-proportion of 
grofs earth, that before rendered it turbid. (2) It 
acquires a'manifeftly falinetafte, which was be- 
fore obfcured by the earth, that rather gave it 
; an aluminous fweetnefs: and (3) It requires a 
/harp and very pungent tafte •, its refxnous fatnefs, 
which before lubricated or cover'd that tafte, by 
its faponaceous property, being now fubjcfted and 
thrown down. 

Such a Juice therefore being gently evapo- 
rated, lofes its fuperfluous aqueous part, and 
grows gradually thick, fo as to concrete in a 
faline form at the fides of the containing veffel. 
This Salt is called tHir/^r, by which name the 
Salt of Wine, in particular, is commonly de- 
noted. 'Tis otherwifc called Wine-Jtone^ as be. 
ing coagulated of a faline, calcarious, earthy, 
and a proportionable rcfinous fubftance. 

^ 57. Thus the Juice of the Sugar-Cane alfo, 
• ^ tho* the Workmen upon the fpot where it is 
^^* boiled, ufually upon its firft turning four, find it 
unfit to afix)rd fuch a fubftance and confiftence, 
as that of the common Sugar ; yet no doubt it 
niay after fuch a change, be ftill coagulated into 
cryftals, tho' not in fo large a quantity as before. 
For Ari^elus Sala teaches us a method of making 
Wine from Sugar, again diflblved in Water and 
artificially fermented ; which Wine is firft ace- 
tous, but witlf time acquires a fweet and faccha- 
rine tafte. This experiment therefore fliews, that 
faline cryftals, like thofe of Tartar, may be ob- 
cain'd from fuch fweet Wine \ which is made in 
the following manner. 

Difiblve Sugar, by a gentle fire under the 
Copper, in twice, or rather more than twi< 
its own quantity of Water, and mark the heig 
cf rhefoJurion on the fidej then add abo 



f; !• Vegetahle Bolts. 



the fame quantity of Water again, and lctth( 
whole be boiled till the original quantity onlj 
remains, or the mark appears again. If an) 
Scum riies, it is to be taken off: and the remain* 
ing liquor, whilft it isyet.hot, being ftrain'd 
thro' flannel, into veffels of Oak, and there 
fufFer'd to cool ; as foon as it grows tepid, add 
a fmall proportion of Yeaft, and keep the li- 
quor for a week or two in a warm place •, by 
which means it will ferment, throw up a fro- 
thy head, anddepofitea fediment in the very 
fame manner as Muft or Wort. The liquor, 
therefore being drawn off pure and clear, is, 
like other Wines, to be kept in caflcs of Oak ; 
where like them, it proves firfl: rough and a- 
cid to the tafle, but the longer it lies in the 
vault, the more grateful and uniform it grows. 
This Procefs is defcribed more at large in the . 
Saccbarologia of Angdus Sah. Part IJ. Cajp. 6. 
p, lOI. . ' 

58. But as thefeSalts,which when thusdiffolved,^ 
and intimately intermixed with Water, in a liquid fn 
form, conftitute vinous Liquors, afford by in- 
fpiflation, before this intimate conjunftion, the 
faline Subftance above mentioned ; fo now like- 
wife, after; their groffer feculencies', that were 
more intimately combined with them, are by fer- 
mentation feparated and depofited, (which in a 
more crude ftate is effefted by clarification with 
the white of Eggs, or decantation) being infpif- 
fated by a flow evaporation of their more aqueous 
parts, they coalefce into the like faline fubftance, 
. tho* purer, and in much greater quantity, called 
by the name of Tartar, in Wine, which is a ftand- 
ing Example of this kind of Produftions. 

That Tartar comes thus to carvat.\fc ^fex ^. 

^ow cvapoTAtiony is matter ot'E.x^t\tT\.c^>H\x>ci 
1 4. ^^^' 



9 Compound^ or Artlficialy Part II; 

fuch as undertake the management of Wiri^s. 
For when Wine is put into a new C^fk, and fet 
as it ought fometimes to be, with the buiig-hole 
open, in a vault, the Wine is every week found 
fb far todiminifh by evaporation, befides what 
the Cafk at firft drinks in, that there is a con- 
tinual neceflity of keeping it filling up with 
• .frefh. When the Wine has continued thus de- 
'creafing for a year or two, the whole quantity 
evaporated is found by the quantity of the ad- 
dition required. And if now the Cafk be emp- 
^ tied, its internal furface will be found Tprinkled 
, over with a certain grofs, fparkling, cryftalline 
powder^ ofafaline tafte. If this fubftancebe 
not beat off, but other Wine put into the fame 
veffel, and fuffered to ftand as before ; and 
jif this be a great number of times repeated in 
the fame veilcl, the gradual concretion will 
at length grow confiderable, and amount to 
a large quantity of "Tartar \ which, if good 
Wine were always put into the Cask, will prove 
finely cryftalline ; but if fermenting Muft, or 
new foul Wines, containing much of a grofs 
earthy fubftance, the Tartar alfo will be fe- 
culent, muddy and earthy. 

mriji^ 59* This feculent and muddy Tartar is freed 
from its fuperfluous earthy part, by Clarifica- 
tin:. The w;ty is to diflblve it^ by boiling in 
common Water, and pafsthe folution, whillt 'tis 
yet boiling-hot, thro* Flannel, and when 'tis al- 
nioft cold, mixing therewith a proper quantity 
of the white of Eggs, 'then bringing the mixture 
gradually to boil again, whereby the more grofs 
and earthy part of the Tartar will, with the whi*' 
of the Eggs, be thrown to the top, in the fi 
uf Scum, and leave the liquor transparent. 



8.1. Vegetable Salts. 

This Liquor being boiled to a proper height, 
and freed from its Scum, and afterwards fet in 
a Cellar, it there (hoots to the fides and bottom 
of the veffel, pure tranfparent cryftals, call'd 
Crjftals of 'Tartar. But if during the operation 
thefolution be removed a little from the Fire, 
fo that it may ceafe to boil, a thin tranfparent 
Cuticle will, by means of the cool air, efpe-' 
cially in the Winter, be made to concrjt * up- 
on the furface •, which being taken otFand dri- 
ed, is caird Cream of Tartar. 

60. That the conftituent parts o^ Tartar are, in // 
general, faline, oily and earthy, apj^XMr s ny the •'; 
Piftillation and Calcination thereof. oj 

By Dijlillation it firft yields a pM gin, which 
ferves to procure its cryftalliqe coafiilcncc , but 
as this cannot be fepn rated without a (Irong 
Fire, it hapi)ens that i;he Bne oiJy Aibftancc 
of the Tartar cpmes over along wirli it ': at the 
fame time alfo rifes the fine volacilV filine part, 
which combines and intermixes the oily along 
with the phlegmatic part •, whence we have an 
aqueous, oleaginous, faline Mixt, Caird«S//W/ 
of Tartar \ which by reafon of its volatile fa- 
line fubltance is refolvent, by reafon of its fine 
oily fubftance, hot and inflaming, but upon 
account. of both a very powerful Sudorific, 
After thefe rifes a grofs, black, fetid, empyreu- 
matical Oil, abounding largely in volatile Salt, 
whence this alfo is a mod potent, but too hot 
a Sudorific. And as Tartar copioufly abounds 
with fuch Oil, it cannot be totally feparated 
without the afliftance of candetaftion. 

But by this means alfo, the faline, nitrous 
V^}ioii\\tTartar coming to be burnt along 
With fome part of the more fix'd Oil, it thereby 
i^m into an alkaline Salt, nvK\c\\ b^ ^\vc\^Vi 



Compound^ or Artificial^ Part II, 

Water is wafh'daway from the other grey or 
white earthy fubftance, and by the evapora* 
tion of this Water, reduced to a faline body 'i 
called Salt of Tartar \ which, being fct in a cold 
moid place, readily imbibes the humid par- 
tides of the air that comes at it, and diffolves 
with them into a Liquor call d Oil of Tartar 
fcr deliquium^ 

61. Of the former Subftances, viz. the Phlegm, 
volatile Salt, and finer Oil, we are to obferve, 
tiiat they really inhere more or lefs, under the 
fame fubftance, to the faline concrete of Tartan 
but that the fix*d Salt is produced in the opera- 
tion, upon the conjunction of the nitrous fait with 
the grofler oil, by means of deflagration. 

For Tartar contains two kinds of Salts, viz.- 
one that is acid and nitrous, and another that 
is volatile and urinous j whence it affords a Spe- 
cies of Sal-ammoniac •, and befides thefe it a- 
bounds with a copious Oil. 

This appears plain by diftilling crude Tar* 
tar J with twice its weight of any fixM alkali i 
they being firft well mix'd together, and the 
junfture of the veflels well luted', for by this 
. means an urinous Salt and Spirit will be obtainM 
in a confiderable quantity ; the acid| which 
before detained the urinous volatile part being 
now join*d to the fix*d Salt, and leaving the 
volatile one at liberty to afcend. 

If the Ca/ut mortuum^ remaining after the re- 
paration of the dusky, urinous Salt, be firft 
gently dry*d, then extrafted with highly reftj- 
fied Spirit of Wine, and the clear liquor bedi- 
ftiird in Balneo Maricc^ that only the Spirit of 
Wine may coit>c over, there will a matter 
left behind, which being urg'd with a ftro 
heat, yields a much fwecter '' ' the 



§.i. Vegetable Salts. 

jner ; Bw if the mafs remaining after diisope-^ 
ration be diluted with Water, calcarious ear- 
thy feces will fall to the bottom, and are to 
be feparated, by the filtre, from the clear ii- 
quor J which being now infpiffated bv evapo-. 
ration, and fet to cryftallize, yields a Salt; that 
is partly nitrous, and partly of a middle na- 
ture, al mod like common Salt. 

62. We muft obferve of the Salts of other Ve- i 
gctables, that they differ greatly ifrom one ano- J 
ther, according ro the difference of the Vegeta-i 
blesin the following refpecb; viz. (i)The rari* 
ty or denfity of the fubjeft. Whence (2) a great- 
er or lefs degree of Fermentation; which is great- 
ly circunifcribed by (3) The different condition 
of the terreftrial fubftance, that affords the vege- 
table its nourifhment, (4) And laftly, the greater 
or lefs, thegrofler or finer fpecific oily parts. 
Thus grofs and denfe Woods yield a copious 
Acid, that is yet but little changed in itsipect 
fie nature. But Fruits that contain a large 
quantity of Salt,receive a different change there- . 
in, according to their different degree of fer- 
mentation or maturity. 

The concurrence of a fpecific Earth appears 
in Woods, particularly in Oak, its Acorns and 
its Galls •, which receive their aftringentftyptic 
fafte from nothing elfe but fuch a fpccificEarth. 
The Juice of Lemmons, tho* it receives (o 
confiderable an acidity from a degree offer- 
mentation, and principally from the abfence of 
a fufficient earth, whence it fomewhat refem- 
bles Spirit of Nitre \ yet affords a certain Spe- 
pes of Salt, that was complicated therewith. 

We learn from mechanical Experiments, 
liow far the terreftrial fubftance, which, accor- 
,^%r9 experience, is requited diefetttvimtivti 



Animal Salts. PartIL 

conftitution of different Vegetables, may con- 
tribute towards caufing a difference in the Salts. 
Thus the fame Spirit of common Salt withdif. 
fcrent earths, fuch as Bole, Terra figillataj or 
Lapis Hamatites^ concretes into a very ftyptic 
Salt % with Egg-fhells and Oifter-fliells into a 
very faline one ; but with fix'd alkali into true 
and folid common Salt. 

From this foundation then we may under- 
ftand whence Oak-wood, Galls, Tormentil- 
Root, £ffr. have their aftringency. Camomile 
its faltnefs, Lemmons, Barberries, Sorrel, GrV. 
their fharpnefs. Sugar its fweetnefs, Gfr. And 
on the other hand, whence Vinegar becomes in- 
fipid by the addition of Crabs-eyes, fweet by 
the adaition of Lead, and ftyptic by the addi- 
tion of Iron, 

That the ftypticity of Oak and Galls, the 
faltnefs of Camomile, and the acidity of Lem- 
«'nions, Barberries, Sorrel, fcfr. refide in their 
Salts, is jnanifeft from hence, that they are 
by dcco^fon communicated to Water, v/irh 
which thpy pafs thro* the Filtre, and out ot 
which they are again coagulated, 

ANIMAL SALT'S. 

;ah 63 • ^cid^ muriatic r and volatile urifious Sdih 
'^^ are in their crude ttate feparated from Aumdi) 
that Is, without any farther afliftance of combi- 
nation or alteration. 

But the acid Salt is obtained in plenty, only 
from one fubjeft in all the animal kingdom, 
lb far as we know at prefent, viz, from Mt^'^ 
and that in an exceedingly attenuated, an 
therefore volatile ftatc, 

Wd may procure a Specimen of it, by JipF 
jng a (lick three or four timci? 



At8< 



^f. Animal Salts. 

heap of cluftcr'd -^/, and fufieringic to «• 
maw among them a litdc, ib that they may 
bcdcw it, as it were, with their falival Juicc^ 
which thus yields fuch a powerful acid odour, 
as to force tears from the eyes. 

So likewife if a parcel ot live and bride Ants 
be freed from their dirt and other impurities, 
and put into a confiderablc quantity of diftiird 
Water, and therein ftirr*d about with a ftick 
till they die, this Water being now filtered will 
becQme moft pungendy acid, and prove very 
fcrviceable in extemalappIications>i{fedagaini^ 
paralytic diforders. 

This acidity alfo comes over the helm ; thus 
if to a quantity of live Ants^ enrag'd by flu- 
king them in a glafi ^ttcurbit, redtified Spirit 
of Wine be added, \^hich prefently kills them, 
and the Spirit be drawn gendy from them by a 
boiling heat in Balneo Marie^ with its refrige- 
ratory of Glafs, the Spirit, by this means will 
come over impregnated with a penetrating a- 
cid, that is ftill more fcrviceable in paralytic 
cafes jefpecially ifattended with flight inflam- 
mation. 

Some are of opinion, that the like acidity is 
obtainable from all the Infers that have flings, 
as Bees, Wafps, Scorpions, 6?r. becaufe thefe 
as well as A^its flioot out a fling, when irrita- 
ted, with a little drop of a very penetrating li- 
Quor adhermg to it •, which liquor is fuppos*d 
the folc caufe of that inflammatory pain and 
Itching confequent upon their punfture. This 
indeed looks very probable, yet fuch an acid 
lic^uor, if at all, is obtained from them in much 
Icls quantity than from Ants i which in propor- 
tion to the fmallnefs of their bulk, give out 
a lajgeprccl thereof. 



S Animal Salts. Part II. 

fimu 64. We find a muriatic Salu ibmething refern- 
"^ bling the common, contain'd in the Urine of A- , 
J2L nimals % which not only in the human kind, \vho I 
life Salt with their aliment, but likewife m all 
brutes, is found to" be muriatic; fo that being 
fufficiently infpiffated, and freed from its over. 
proportion of oil, it fhoots into the form of cu- 
bical faline cryftals^ 

This Oil is feparated from it either by a fim- 
pic and gentle degree of ignition, perform'd 
for example in a Ret6rt •, or elfe it is extrafted 
by pouring highly reftified Spirit of Wine upon 
thedry'd mafs remaining after diftillation. 

Or elfe any alkali Salt, run per deliquiutn^ 
may in a moderate quantity be poured to this 
uncfried mafs ; whence it will intimately im- 
bibe the faline parts thereof-, and with them 
Ihoot from the reft of the liquor into ialine cry- 
ftals, lika common Salt •, after the manner 
mentioned above*, of Spirit of Salt coagulated 
with fix*d alkali. 

Alt 65* Animals contain a copious volatile SalU 

•*« in all their parts, 

J*^ ^ ForasAnimals are principally nourifhM from 

'• Vegetables, which, according to what we for- 

merly obferved II, contain original mineralSalts, 
now more intimately mix*d with other things 
by fermentation 5 when thefe Vegetable ali- 
ments, in order to conftitute blood and nutri- 
mental matter, come to be again changed, at- 
tenuated, and confermented, they not only 
become finer, but alfo, by reafon of the fubti- 
lized oil in particular, now combined there- 
with, extremely volatile. 



* Sec f .aS. of this ScCkion. \\ 



^u Simple Fegefahk Salts. 

This volatile Salt Is indeed obtainM from all 
the parts of Animals ; but it particularly, and 
as ic were, locally refides, or is concentrated 
and entangled in their gelatinous parts, which 
are copioufly lodged in the harder animal fub-» 
ftances, as the Bones, Horns, 6fr. or i^ill more 
plentifully in fuch as aire membranous and 
without blood; as the Skins or Hides, (Sc. 
This Salt is alfo plentifully contain'd in the 
Fat, or rather in the groiter part thereof \ 
whence it does not feparate. without a ftrong 
Fire \ whereby *tis driven over in the form 
of an empyreumatical Oil \ which being jpour- 
ed back upon bones calcined to whitenefi, af-^ 
fords a copious volatile Salty by diftillation. 

But by the affiftance of Art this 5a// is ob^ 
tain*d in a much greater quantity from the parts 
of Animals -, viz. by expofing tnem to a previ- 
ous pucrefadion. For zsih^ volatile Salt ac« 
tually exifting in the parts of Animals, is not 
formed without the affiftance of a certain pu- 
trefaftion in the human and other animal bo- 
dies ; whence the excrements of animals parti- 
cularly abound with the fame ; fo, if fuch 
parts of animals' as are turgid with the matter 
of this volatile Salt^ be expofed to a farther 
confermentation, there thence arifes an entire 
combination of the parts aftually containing 
the materials of this volatile Salt ; whence 
they now come to yield it formally in greater 
plenty. 

"THE MORE SIMPLE VEGETABLE' 

SALtS. 

(i&. But the better to illuftrate the generation \ 

of volatile Salts in animal bodies, let usconfiderfj 

It out of them. Now this happens \rv tKe fol-^i. 

mJhg manner. Any putrefied vegftuU^Vifcvwg; 



B Simple Vegetable Salfs, Patt \l 

diftilled in the aft of putrefaftion, affords an 

OH and volatile Salty in all refpeds like that of 

animals. The reafons of which phsenomenon 'tis 

here worth while to confider. 

_. We formerly obferved * of Fentientation, 

[ how the lighter and exceeding fubtile oily par. 

. tides, being now fet free'f^om the concrete 
wherein they were lodg'd, are by a light mo- 
tion, or gentle heat, propell'd in their natural 
ftate : We have likewife before obferved f, 
how the lighter aqueous particles are by a gen^ 
tie agitation combined therewith, fo as to con- 

. ftitute an inflammable Spirit : The aftion there- 
fore of this flow inteftine coagitation being 
continued, the more fubtile earthy or faline 

. parts are thus attenuated, ground fine, and 
admitted into the combination; whence an 
earthy, or faline, oily, aqueous andcryftalline 
concrete is producea, under the name ofvok- 
tile Salt. 

That this Salt is materially compofed of 
thefe parts, appears from hence, that Putrc- 
faftion, or this combinatory Fermentation, be- 
ing performed in a digeft:ing Veflel, furnifli'd 
with its alembic Head and Receiver, fcarce 
any, or but very litde oily matter, and nothing 
of a faline one comes over •, but the whole, 
or the greateft part of the Oil is fo fpent upon 
the volatile Salt^ that when a very oily plant 
is perfeftly putrefied, it yields no thin ef- 
fential Oil, having the odour of the plant i 
and but very little empyreumatical Oil, in 
proportion to that obtained from the pM 
when newly dry 'd. To which may bea("^ 
that the more oily any vegetable is, the ' 
'tis difpofed to afford a copious volari' 



[ 



See Partl.$.3. <{. 17. 



J.I. Simph VigetMe Sattt. 

That fix'd Salt contributes to the eompofi- 
tioci) abundantly appears ihthis^ diattheve- 
geubles which yidd a confiderable c|uantitf of 
fix'd Salt, afibnl but littlo thereof after having 
been thus putrefied \ of vaftly leis than they 
wou'd in a re^t ftate. 

^Tis fartherio be remafic'd,that thefe uotdtile 
Salts alfo differ according tb the different and 
fpeciiic proportion of the Oil and Salt con-^ 
tainM in vegetable. And if there be more of 
either thiin will; fervc to faturate the propor- 
tion of the other upon uniting therewith % for 
exampld) much more of an oily than of a light 
faline, earthy fubftance 5 theft that fupcrabun-. 
dant oily part will remain unchanged all the 
time of the confermentation 5 and pafsover, 
in its prillinc ftate, upon diftillation^ 

6;. Though thele volatile. Salts are obtaina-ir 

ble from various Species of Vegetables, it re-jjj 

mains a queftion, whether they are not all per-vn 

feftly of the fanle origin and efficacy, jj. 

Thisc|ueftion may be determmcd. With fome ^^ 

probabihty, from the following Obfefvations* 

(i.) The rcfinous or more grofs oily part 

contributes to the conftitution of thefe Salts, 

as appears from hence, that tho* from bal- 

famic or aromatic vegetables, v/s. Mint,Baulm, 

Marjoram, &?f, their aromatic Oil, wherein all 

their fpeciftc virtue refkles, beextraAed, they 

ftill altbrd a copious volatile Salt ; if the Caput 

wortiium remaining after their diilillation, be 

firft i^treficd in a velfcl only loofcly covered, 

and afterwards dilliird agaih. Nor does this 

clalh with what we juft now obfervcd *, that 



no 

i irTT Hi 






Simple Vegetable Salts. Part II, 

no oil, even of the fined kind, rifes inclofc 
putrefaftion. But, (2.) *Tis certain, that the 
fcminal and fpecific odour of aromatics, if it 
docs not here fly off in the vehicle of Oil, yet 
does in the form of an aerial and unconHnable 
vapour, for which therefore ar little vent is to 
be left, otherwife it wou'd break the glafswith 
its force •, and if it were not entangled in the 
grofferoil, it wou*d upon account of its fub- 
tility , fly off ftill fafter. But as the entire fpe- 
cific virtue of fuch vegetables refides in this 
very fubtile fpecific odour, 'tis manifeft thai 
when this odour is loft to a diftilled oil for 
inftance, the fpecific property of that oil is 
taken away ; whence it remains not a parti- 
cular but a general oil ; no longer deferving 
the name of the oil of Mint, Baulm or Mar- 
joram. And t!)is happens in the foregoing 
preparation of volatile Salts \ where this fpeci-^ 
fie odour is not inverted or obfcured, as feme 
imagine ; but corporeally and locally feparated*, 
and with it the fpecific determination of the 
Vegetable not only ceafes, but utterly va- 
nilhes, 

iemiy 68. But farther, this combination of Oil and 

"vegc- ^ ^^^^ fubtile Earth into a fnline, volatile fub- 

a^y ftance, may be effefted, as it were in an in- 

nfion. ftant, or incomparably lefs time than by pu- 

trefaftion, viz. by accenfion\ whence thdeoily 

parts are fo complicated with the fubtile earthy 

or (Iiline ones, as plentifully to concrete into m- 

latile Salts. 

For Soot is nothing elfe but a colleflion of 
this volatile Salt^ wrapp d up in a pitchy ^^ 
refinous Subftancc, and propelPd conjc 
ly with a grofler earth, by the force of I 
This iootf being commictcd r^ j-'^*"- 



§'. t . Simple t^egetabte ^ alii 4 

yields fo fine and copious a volatile Sdlt^ 
that Mr. Boyle^ in his Sceptical Cbemift \ pro- 
nounces it one of the moft volatile bodies in 
the world -, as readily afcending to the top of 
the higheft vcflcl, by the gentle heat of a 
bare Lamp-furnace. That this is not produ- 
ced but by incineration with a naked flame, 
and confequently a moft intenfe combination* 
and an exceeding fubtile and fudden comminu- 
tion, appears from, hence, that without fuch 
a proceedure, nothing of this kind is obtam- 
ablefrom vegetables. 

We have an effedt of the like Operatidn, 
by pouring fuch a thick oil, at once, upon 
anyfubcile earth, fuch as.calcinedHartfliorn^ 
burnt Bones, Lime, or coarfe alkaline Salts^ 
and diftilling off the Oil again with a fufH- 
ciendy ftrong Fire -, for thus a large part there* 
of, taking to itfelf a fubtile earthy Subftance^ 
will rife therewith in the form of a volatile 
Salt. This indeed fucceeds beft in thick Oiis^ 
which if once or twice drawn over, and af- 
terwards employed in this operation, though 
now performed with the fame expedition, they 
wouM afford nothing at all ; and that upon ac- 
count not of any effential, but an accidental 
defeft, in point of time alone. 

For, if the thick oil thus fubtilized, or 
any other that of itfelf is already fubtile, as 
that of Turpentine, for example, be poured 
upon well-dried and warm fixM alkaline Salt, 
lo as to bring if to the conliilcnce of paint, 
and the mixture be put into a vial, that the 
oil may not too loon run away from the 
laic, and digciled for a week or two, thea 
diftiird, a confidcrable quantky olvc-jtiUkri- 

* Prop.iy^ ahridgai. vol- j. F^gio^. 



32 Simple Fegetable Salts. Part II 

nous Salt will .come over after the particles of 
. Oil that were not hitherto combined. 

Some vulgar Chemifts attribute thefe ph^. 
jDomeha to Refblution\ as conceiving Oils to 
be Acids, and to have abforbed the vohtilt 
. Salts i but that their connexion is diflblved by 
the interpofition of a fix*d alkali or terreftrial 
concrete, in the fame manner as in Sal-am- 
moniac: But all the circumftanccs being well 
. confider*d, we conclude, that thefe efFefts are 
rather produced by Combination in the man- 
ner already defcribed ; and this not only from 
the mechanical experiments of Soot^ but like- 
wife thofe of PiHrefa£lionj hitherto explain'd. 

id i«. 69, We are not however to imagine, that all 
IS Salts muft thus at once immediately fuffcr u great 
' ^f alteration in their taftc \ fmce there are even in- 
fipid liquors that diflblve bodies, pi:ove corro- 
five, and have every effeft of Salts, except their 
tafte. Thus the filtred Decoftion of Quick-lime 
is tranfparent and infipid j yet diflblves fulphii- 
reous bodies, as common powdered brimftone,. 
by being boiled along with them. 

But we are particularly to obferve of iW//- 
cilages^ that they are the immediate material 
part in the Conftitution of W^///^ .^^//Ji ^^n^' 
provided they have Oils intermixed along with 
them, as the Mucilages or Jellies of animal 
, Subftances have, they are then combined by 
bare continuation of the confermentation ; but 
if they contain Oil more fparingly, as the 
Mucilages of Gum-Tragacanth, Linfeedj&t* 
'tis neceflary to mix a foreign oil therewitli. 

To this may be added the obfervation 
fincw'd Wines •, which being left in that ^ 
do not grow acid, or change into vine 
fcut become ropy, orputiik^ 



%i. Simple Vegetable Salts. ij 

liginous matter, in general, wherever it be ^ 
found, isnothing but a falinc, earthy, and oily, ' . 
or faponaceous concrete ; though difFering m 
its proportion of Oil. 

Solikewife, that a faline Subftance is latent 
in aqueous and infipid concretes, as they ap* 
pear tothefenfts, becomes manifeft from their 
corrofive efFeds, and particularly their diflblv- 
ing of Metals. 

Such aqueous Solvents arc obtained from 
Dew, Rain, Snow, and the bluifh clay found 
near the origin of Springs, as alfo from the 
cxcrementitious parts of animals; to which 
niay be added the human Saliva, as having the 
like effcift: and this I take for ^the folvent de- 
fign'd by Helwig ; the words Vis aliena tejfa 
that occur in his Writings, feeming to be no 
other than an Ano.gr ain of Rjfentia Saliva. 

A Liquor like this Saliva is producible by 
art ; though it has hitherto been but little, or 
not at all taken notice of If ftrong diftill'd 
Vinegar be poured upon tlie volatile Spirit of 
Sal-ammoniac, the violent tafte of each vaniflics, 
and leaves the liquor purely aqueous in the 
judgment of all the fcnlbs ; yet no contemp- 
tible menftruum. 

.If white Flints be ignited and quenched in 
diiliird Rain-water, then taken out, ignited 
and quenchM again ; and this opration be rCf 
peated feveral times, till at length their fub- 
ftance refolves into a tliick liquor, or thin 
mucilage i their grcateil part will now be 
found received into the clear Water, yet with- 
out confiderably altering the tafte thereof. 

70. Not only tht volaiih 5^// of Plants, but^^j'/'^'' 
Wccwife acid Salts or Finegarsy as;dfo Jix'd alkaline WiX .. 
^ms arc the Produftions of artijicial Combination, ^g/^; 

K 3 \^Wi\Vvx\V»^ 



J Simple FegetableSalts.V2itt\\^^ 

fhi Vinegars are produced, by Confermentation^ 

^ .. from fuch vegetable Juices as are faline^ p,7« I 
^^ ^xA earthy I 

The Concretes for this purpofe manifeft 
their yi/m^ property to the tafte, as is remark- 
^ble in fweet Juices •, they muft be oily, be- 
caufe without the concurrence of oily parts, 
the requifue inteftine, combinatory and gen- 
tle motion cou'd not be obtained •, and they 
jnuft alfo be earthy^ to afford the inftrument 
of that remarkable pungency effential to Vine- 
gar. 

The nature alfo of thefe acetous Sails is ma- 
nifeft, a pftcrioru or by chemical analyfis. 

Vinegar may be made from generous Wine; 
by hearing the Wine with a quick Fire to the 
degree of ebuilition •, then letting it ftand in a 
warm place for feme days, whereby it will 
acquire a very acid tafte : yet when talcen from 
the Fire, fcarce any'percciveable part thereof 
is found to be evaporated. 

To compare this Vinegar with Wine that 
has not thus been heated, we fliall find the 
Wine contain a confiderable quantity of in- 
flammable Spirit, as alfo of a grofs oil, which 
comes over cmpyreumatical when urged with 
a ftrong Fire -, and laftly a portion of genuine 
Salt, that is foluble in aqueous liquors. But 
in the little evaporation that thus happens in 
making the Vinegar, a very fmall portion of 
the inflammable Subftance, much lefs of the 
grpfs oil, and leaft of all, of the faline tarta- 
reous earth, cou'd poffibly fly off. In ftiQit, 
the Wine thus heated retains, in all refpfts, 
^ generous vinous tafte, tho* not equally as 
beTore \ ye|: in the compafs of a few days tunjj 
wholly to Vinegar ; whence it follows, that all j 
the parrs of Wme are requifitc to cpnferve jh^ 
, pi3e/2ce of Vinegar, 



§.i. Simple Vegetable Salts, 

The Experiment of Bechr^ mentionM in 
' liisPbyficaSubterranea*^ is eafiJy made; where 
by doiSng Wine up in a VLal, fo that nothing 
couM evaporate, and expofing it to a digeftivc 
heat, he declares it was totally converted into* 
«ccllent Vinegar. 

Nay, Wine itfelf plainly appears to be no- 
thing but a Vinegar moreclofely wrapp*dup; 
for clear, filtred Muft is a concrete of a fweet 
aluminous tafte •, which tafte is given it by a 
peculiar bituminous earth, after the fame man- 
ner as, when Iron is thrown into Vinegar, and 
imbibed by corrofion into the fubftance there^ 
of, it converts the Iharpnefs of the Vinegar to 
n faccharinc fweetnefs. But this bituminous 
earth of the Muft, as well by reafon of its 
groffnefs, as of its unftuofity, cannot long be 
detained therein ; that is, cannot firmly cohere 
to the Salt of that liquor, when agitated by a 
flow inteftine motion, or the addon of Fer- 
mentation, by which it is therefore precipitated 
to the bottom ; whence the Salt, being freed 
from the aflfociation of this fluggifh matter, is 
more brilkly agitated, and fo bicomes more 
pungent, and ancfts the tongue with the fen- 
fatlon of Iharpnefs, 

71. But fince Wines are often made from 
Muft in very cold Cellars, in this cafe indeed the 
groffer bulk of the forefaid bituminous earth, 
which coheres but loofely, and abounds in an 
over-proportion, is ftruck out, wore off, and fe- 
parated j but that part thereof which coheres 
more intimately, cannot fo eafily be fet free, 
whilft the inteftine agitation is thus checked by 
the external cold. 

K 4 But 

"^^A/. Sea.V. C^p.x. pag.j67,56&. 



R$ SifHple Vegetabk Salih Part II, 

But if this Wine be again put into an mte* 
•ftine motion, as it may be by the application 
pf a warm external heat, 4 larger quantity, of 
earthy, and bituminous, or picchy particles 
will again be thrown to the bottom *, whence 
the laline part of the liiquor being freed from 
this fheathmg earth, now farther exert? its fa- 
line aftivity, pungencyi and corrofive proper- 
ty, and fo makes perfeA Vinegar, 

The fame thing happens here, (tho' by a 
more natural opei^ation, that is fcarce imitablc 
by art) as in diftilling the Spirits of com- 
mon Salt and Nitre, after the manner »v 
bovemention'd *. Fqr thefe being fatur^ted 
with an alkaline or fubtile calcarious earth, do 
not, even in a large quantity, fo afFeft the taftc, 
nor never prove fo corrofive, as when they arc 
again feparated from this earth by diftillation, 
I'he difference betwixt the two cafes depends 
only upon the manner of the feparation. 

72. Such Vinegar may likewifc be made arii- 
ficiallv by Compojitmii thus. Put a little com- 
mon i^urpcntinc into an earthen veffel, and with 
a llrong heat melt it, fo tliat fome part thereof 
may infinuatc into the pores of the veffel : Then- 
feparately diffolve a parcel of Nitre, in about fix 
times its own quantity of Water \ put the fola- 
tion into the veffel prcparcd'with Turpentine, and 
boil it flowly ; after which let the veffel be flight^ 
ly covered, and fet it in a warm place -, and thus 
a ftrong and pungent Vinegar will be made. 
Or diffolve Gum Ammtc in good Spirit of 
Wine, and pour the folution into cqld Water i 
whence the mixture becoming milkv* 
greateft part of the Gum will fall to tr 

f See f. If > (^c^ pf thisScdlion. 



tu SiPtp^ Vtgetabk Salts. 

lom. The iTiittininglkpor becoming in feme 
degree dear, is to be boiled over a gentle fire, 
with the addidon of a little Nitre, till all 
cheSpiric of Wine is evaporated^ then the 
remainder being again decanted, (lightly co- 
veted and fet in a warm place, will turn into 
genuine Vinqgan 

73. There is ftiil another Salt obtainM and ^ 
made from Vegetables by artificial Combination^ ^ 
viz. by burning the Vegetable, and pouring Wa- iw 
ter upon the Afhes \ which thus impregnate it 
with a certain faline fubftance, which remaining 
pure after the evaporation of the Water, conti- 
nues long Bx*d in the fire, or even a white heat, 
whence 'tis called by the name of fix^d Salt. 
It has been long difputed whether this Sale 
a£tually exifts, in this fame form or fubftance, 
in Vegetables, and is only feparated by incine- 
ration from the other parts of the vegetable 
concrete j or whether it be made in the adt of 
incineration, by the combination of fome cer- 
tain parts of the Concrete. 

The following phenomena appear to deter- 
mine for the ' latter, (1) There is a nitrous 
\ Salt found in moft Plants, as we have al- 
ready obferved*, (2) We have likcwife re- 
mark*d || that they contain a refinous or fulphu- 
reous, and inflammable bituminous fubftance. 
But now (3) if foifil Nitre be mix'd with any 
bituminous, inflammable fubftance, and coa- 
gitatcd therewith by deflagration, a true fix*d 
alkali is thence produced. 

That the fame thing happens in the incine- 
ration of Vegetables, whence their alkaline 

Salts 

\SctP4nL $.1. f j7, jS. afti^,^7.<rttVaiSee6«i- 



t» Simple Vegetable Salts, Part 11. 

Salts are nothing elfe but their nitrous part 
.commix'dy by deflagration, along with their 
, bituminous part, is confirm'd by the following 

phasnomena. 

Take any Plant that is known to yield a 

copious fixM Salt, dry it quick in a ftiady place, 

cut it fmall, and jpouring redtified Spirit of 

Wine thereon, digeft till this has totally ex- 
' * . trafted the refinous part of the plant \ for 

which purpofe frelh parcels of Spirit may be 
: employed, till at length they come oflT unco- 

lour'd. Let the remaining plant be boiled in 
; Water, and the Decoftion filtred, then infpif. 

fated, and it will afford cry ftals of Nitre. 
Or if the remaining matter of the plant be. 

gently calcinM, and the aflies thereof elixated, 
; they will thus afford not a fix*d alkali, but pure 

Nitre; the refinous part, which otherwife ufed 
. to combine into alkalu by deflagration with 
• the nitrous, being here taken from it. 

74. The fame quefl:ion is ft:arted ofjix'd alka- 
^ liesy as was above obfervM * of volatile Salts, viz, 
fr- whether they have the fame fpecific difference and 
effects as the plants they are made from. 

In order to determine this queftion, we muft 
here repeat || that the fpecific medicinal part, 
and the feminal tafl:e and odour of every plant 
are ufually inherent in its moft: volatile oily 
fubfl:ance alone •, the other refinous part, being 
that groffer fubltance, of which, by long con- 
tinued digeftion, this more volatile partis 
form'd : tho' before fuch digeftion it has an 
univerfal and indifferent refpeil to all kinds 
of plants i juft as water, for example, ^ 
the common, remote nutriment of vegeta 



^ Sec 5. 6y. of this Seaiott, ^ l^. 



.1, Simple Vegetable Salts. 

and animals; which being digcfted in plants, 
along with a fat earth, makes Mucilages and * 
Gums } but otherwife combined in Animals, 
with a fine volatile, faline, oleaginous fubftancc» 
forms the Lymphc •, or alortg with a more 
grofs faline matter, the Urine. But this vola- 
tile oily fubftance, that contains the feminal 
conftitutionofthe plant, is by the a6l of inci* 
neration, immediately and totally driven away. 
The Nitre of Plants therefore, along with 
their common grofs oil or rofin, conftitutesbut 
one kind of alkali^ by conflagration, in all 
thofe vegetables that afibrd a/xV alkaline Salt. 

75, But tho' by this means all fix'd alkaline 
Salts are found to be of the fame kind, as to their 
fpecific, medicinal effefts ; yet do they common- 
ly differ in their alkaline fubftance, both accord- 
ing to the difference of the Plants and the diffe- 
rence of the Operation. 

The difference of the Plants here meant is 
not their feminal and fpecific, but rather their 
accidental difference j thus the alkali gain*d 
fromfolid woods or roots, is more earthy and 
calcarious, than that extrafted from the finer 
ftems and leaves of plants. 

There is alfo another difference pf Plants, 
as to th? Salt they contain, which is derivecl 
from particular experiments •, for they do not 
all contain a perfeft Nitre, as we have for- 
merly obferv'd*; and as appears by the fingle 
example of Veronica^ which affords a Salt more 
lilce the common than fix*d alkali. 

A difference in the Operation may ftrangely 
diverfify thefe fix'd Salts. Thus ( i ) if an alkali 
were ehxated from allies, not fufficiently fepa- 

rated 



Simple Vegetable Salts. PartE 

rated from the black coals, but cfpecjally if 
the lixivium were fuffer'd to reft long upon 
fuchafhes, the alkaline, faline part would thus 
imbibe the aduft, refinous^ empyreumatical 
part, wherewith the black afhes abound ; fo 
that the lixivium,when filter'd, does not appear 
pellucid like pure Water, but of a duflcy yel- 
low or brown colour. But fix'd alkalies im- 
pregnated with any fulphureous fubftance, dif- 
fer greatly, and have very different effefts, 
from thofe that are pure -, as we have already 
k^n in part, and fhall more folly fee here- 
after. 

(2) When alkaline Salts are elixatedwith 
hot Water, efpecially if with the affiftance of 
boiling, a large quantitv of grofs, calcarious 
earth, is alfo interfperfed and mingled with the 
Water ; as will become manifeft to the eye, 
upon taking three equal parcels of the alkali 
now once extrafted from the afnes, and dif- 
folving one of them in hot water, another iii 
cold, and running the third per deliqtmm in a 
Cellar ; for thus in the laft cafe there will be 
twice as much of an earthy calx left behind 
upon the glafs or marble, as was afforded by 
the firft folution : which plainly lliews, that this 
earth wasjoin'd to the Salt and Water, by the 
bare coagitation of the Operation. 

(3) Alkalies are made to differ alfo by the 
manner of the Coagulation •, for if any alka- 
line Lixivium be flowly evaporated, efpecial- 
ly if it be largely charged with Water, and let 
to cryftallize, the faline ciyftals thence ari- 
fing will be of a middle or neutral fubftance, 
and neither run in a moift Air, nor precipi- 
tate Acids, nor diffolve Sulphurs. 

It cannot here be fuppoft ' 
this middle fubftance prae 



5.1* Simple Vegetable Salts. 

Mali % becaufc the whole body of fuch Alkalu 
tho* ever fo cauftic, docs, by repeated folution 
in Water, gradual evaporation and cryftalli^ 
zation, pafi into the laid middle fubftancc. 

•Tisa remarkable Obfervation of M, Taver- 
mer*f that at Jfm in the Eaft Indies^ the na- 
tives fupply their want of common Salt from 
the allies of the leaves of a certain tree, with us 
called Ficus Adamicay whence they are fupplied 
with a lixivious Salt, which, whilft in the form 
of a cauftic lie, they ufe for the whitening of. 
yellow Silk, by barely fteeping it therein^ But 
as fuch Salt, by reaion of its alkaline, cauftic 
quality, is unfit to eat, or feafon meats, he fays 
they prepare it, and bring it io the tafte and 
confluence of common Salt, by again dilTolving 
it, thus once prepared, in a largp veflel of Wa- 
ter, and well agitating the folution with pad- 
dles, or rather with whilks, for nine or twelve 
liours fucceflively ; then gently pouring the 
liquor from its faeces, they boil it up to infpif- 
fate it ; whereby it lets fall a Salt perfeftly like 
to common Salt. 

76. We are farther to obferve, that certain m 

Vegetables being dried and burnr, do by no^^ 

means afford fo much Salt by incineration, asry 

when they are treated another way. ^" 

An inftance of this we have in Guaiacum 

Wood, a large quantity whereof affords bur 

little alkalitie Sally by bare incineration •, but if 

the Ihavings of this Wood are long boiled 

in Water, and the Deco6tion infpiirated by 

gentle evaporation, and at length made per- 

feftly dry ; this remaining dry matter being 

now gently calcined and incinerated, yields a 

^uch hrger portion of Salt. To 

*^pcdit. Ifldic, Lib. III. Cap, 17. 



Simple Vegetable Salts. Part II, 

. Toaffign a probable reafon of this phseno- 
vinenon, yrc muft conceive the nitrous falinc 
parts of the Concrete, lying, according to the 
order of parts in Wood eftabliftiM by Afo/. 
figbi and Grew^ in the various veins, canals and 
fibres thereof, feparate and remote from thcoily 
tra6is or cells of the fame concrete j whence in 
the adt of deflagration the faline and oily parts 
are each feparately propelPd by the fire, foa$ 
not, as was required, to combine into fixM Al 
kalu for want of immediate contaft, by the con- 
flagration \ which wou*d otherwife prove com- 
binatory : but when by means of coftion both 
thefe matters are extraaed from their cells, and 
freely interfpersM among one another in the 
Water, then, by infpiflation, thefe falinc and 
oily particles coming to be every where joinM, 
and thus burnt together, the Conflagration, 
now being rightly performed, through the im- 
mediate contaft of both the fubfl:ances, proves 
combinatory, whence the due efFeft, viz. Jix*i 
alkali^ is produced. 

froor- 77. The foregoing Doftrine may be better un- 
ibUsl derftood from the Preparation of alkaline SdU 
without the concurrence of Vegetables, 

Grind equal parts of Nitre and Sulphur to- 
gether into a Powder, of which put fo much as 
will lie upon the point of a knife into a cruci- 
ble, and light it with a burning coal, and 
whilfl: the mafs yet glows, immediately throw 
in the lame quantity of the powder, and con- 
tinue thus till the whole parcel is deflagrated ; 
obferving not to add frefh matter fo »'* 
as to make chat already deflagrated in ' 
crucible too intenfely hot or fluid. The 
cible being now broke, and the hard 
mutter /bund therein laid y 



r 



1 1. Simple Vegetable SaltSi 14 

pieeeofglafs, fet a little aflope in a cellar, it 
will tlws in the fpace of a few days, turn to 
a liquor*, and run into the veffel fet underneath 
to receive it. If this liquor be turbid, let it 
pafe the Filtre 5 then being expeditioufly eva- 
porated, it will coagulate into' genuine alka* 
lineSalt. / ' 

The fame thing happens if Nitre be mix'd 
and deflagrated with ieoals, or any other grofs 
refinous body -, as Tartar, Colophony, Soot, 
Bitumen, (ic. " . 

But *tis here renmrkable that this jilkali dif- 
fers greatly in the degree of its cauftic quality, 
according to the difference of thefe Sulphurs, 
and their greater or lefs degree of fixednefs. 
Thus the Alkalies hitherto mentioned are mild ; 
but become highly cauftic if their oily parts 
are fomething fiirther fix'd. 

Such an Alkali is prepared by bare deflagra- 
tion, without any coUiquation of the whole 
mafs by Fufion ; as is remarkable of Antimony 
mix'd with an equal quantity of Nitre ; and of 
Tin-filings mixM with the fame: but the Al- 
kali proves ftill ftronger if Iron-filings be mix'd 
with Nitre, and fufcd at a violent Fire •, but 
ftrongcftof all, if the finer fubftancc of Iron 
drawn out from its grofler body, be coagita- 
ted along with Nitre. Of all which hereafter. 

78. The Fixation of Sulphurs in the milder /tw^aw 
Alkaliei happens thus. We have formerly li]ppo-/*j«^^ 
^d*the genuine Principle of Sulphur to be ^inVeLeZ 
^^n)\ fui generis \ that is, a folid body fix'd in ^^•/'^• 
the Aggregate, but bj^ its various mixture with 
other Earths conftituting Colours, efpecially in 
opake Bodies: We likewife at the fame time 

ob- 



/•fe/'.iT/.^.X.f.^.j^. 



Simple Fegetabk Sahs. Part It 

dbfenred^ how from this Earth adhering to Salts 
Sulphurs arc produced i or Jf much Wjater were 
intimately commixM therewith^ fluid Oils : At 
prefcnt wc fuppofe that thofe things, which by 
their concreting with this Earth, volatilize the 
lame, and fo carry it off with themfclves into the 
Air, either in the form of Fire or Oil, being a- 
gain feparated therefrom, it will then reco- 
ver its own fix*d and dry date : Or (what 
makes more dircftly to our purpofe) if inftead 
of the faline fubftance, whereto this Earth bcin<T 
combined, made the concrete of Sulphur, ano 
ther grpffcr matter more immoveable and more 
fix'd than that faline one, be combined with this 
fulphmeous Principle, the fame will alfo be more 
firmly detained thereby. 

Thus, if well-calcined Quick-lime be mixM 
with a lixivium of thofe alkaline Salts that arc 
made from a more volatile and attenuated Sul- 
phur, and boiled for fome time therewith ; the 
liquor being afterwards cool*d and clarifyM 
by (landing, then decanted, infpiffated or coa- 
gulated by ftrong frelh boiling, now differs 
prodigiouHy in its cauftic quality from what it 
was before, and becomes the ftrong lie, or 
' mother-liquor of the Soap-boilers. 

In this Operation the moft fubtile, fix'd, 
earthy fubftance of the Quick-lime unites to the 
fulphureous part of the alkaline Salt, and abforbs 
the volatile, faline, acid one thereof-, by which 
means it renders the Mkali more fixM, and more 
penetrating in its aftion. For, a^ tlie corrofivc 
pungency oi Alkalies is totally dcftrOy'd 7 
the admbcture of Acids^ whence a concrete » 
form'd of a neutral tafte, uncapable of P^"* 
ducing the former efie^ y it feems t^\ 
that the fine fulphureous acidity adhc 
Si co/iAiruenc pare of the 



§•!• Simple Vegetable Salts. 

render the alkali more mild or fluggifli ; but by 
being feparated from it, more (harp and intenfe, 

79l. Jntimonyi Ttn^ and IronzX^o fuperficially,. 
are Subjefts that abound with an inflammable 
Sulphur, and that according to the order they 
here ftand in. • 

If Nitre therefore be mix-d in an equal 
Weight with Jhlimony^ and gradually defla- 
grated, as was above ordered ofSulphur *, and 
the matter be prefently elutriated with cold Wa- 
ter, and the liquor coagulated by evaporation, 
then run fer deliquium in a Cellar, filtred, then 
again coagulated, it makes the true Nitrum 
Anfwioniatum \ tho* different from that com- 
monly fold in the Shops, nor of the fame ufe 
in inflammation of the Jaws, 6? r. 

Nitre being mix'd in equal quantity with 
7?», and put into a capacious Crucible, lightly 
covered and fet in a briflc Fire, the mixture 
will prefently begin to fulgurate, boil up, and 
fly about ; but now growing clear, the mafs is 
to be taken out and elixated as above men- 
tioned. 

Iron may be treated in the fame manner ; or 
its Filings being firftftrongly ignited, an equal 
weight of Nitre may be thrown upon rhcm ; 
and the fire being here made very ftrong, the 
matter will foon begin to fulgurate with a vio- 
lent fmoke ; but after growing clear, it is to 
be treated as above. 

80, But as this Alkali^ made of Iron and Nitre j 
if the calcination be continued for fome hours, in 
a ftrong flame, is increafed in ftrength, and ren- 

• der'd 

-**^f;7. of rife Scftion. 
r 



|.6 Simple Vegetable Salts. Part II, 

dcr*d much more cauftic than when it is elixated 
immediately after the detonation ; fo if the SuU 
phur of the Iron, not the inflammable, but its 
. more fix'd metallic Sulphur, be combined with 
the nitrous fubftance, the Alkali thence becomes 
much more fix'd and highly corrofive. 

Equal parts of Nitre^ and the Martial Re. 
gulus of Antimony being bruifed together, throw 
them by degrees into a Crucible moderately * 
ignited •, and if when the whole is in, the mafs 
appears fomewhat foft and pappy, add a little 
more of the forefaid Regulus, reauced to pow- 
der by it felf, till the matter remains hard in a 
very mtenfe white heat. Let it thus continue 
in the Fire an hour or two, with great care to 
prevent the coals from foiling into it •, then take 
out the Crucible, break it, (have off the mat- 
ter whilft 'tis yet hot, and immediately put 
it into a glafs veffel that fhuts exceeamgly 
clofe. 

There are feveral remarkable things of this 
Salti but what confirms the Suppofition, thai 
its cauftic property is wholly owing to the me- 
tallic Sulphur of the Iron is this, that we con- 
ftantly find fuch a Salt can by no means be 
obtained from the fimple Regulus of Anti- 
mony. 
: The Properties and Pha^nomena of this Salt 

i are as follow, (i.) It appfears white to the 
i eye, but up and down about it greenilh or 
I bluilh, after the manner of other wcll-cakined 
alkalious Sails: and tho' it contain a large 
quantity of a powdry Subftance, as if it were 
; the Cerufe of the Martial Regulus, 'tis never- 
! thelcis found lucid, or fomewhat equably 
I tranfparent. 

i (2.) Its fixednefs appears from hence, that 

i tho* it be calcined for nunY hours co^i^thcr. 



iiiJUilnilWM.M.H'Ui.li'l 



pi Simple Vegetable Salts. 

and even repeatedly fufed with the moft inten/e 
Fire, and cooled again; it lofes not the Xf^ 
of Its Weight. 

(3.) 'Tis fo cauftic, that a little bit of it 
being lightly tnoiften'd, grovvs intenfely hot» 
and ftrikes the tongue to that degree, as by a 
fingle touch to caufe a folution of continuity* 
which lafts for feveral days: whence 'tis 
ufed in the way of pleafantry, by laying a dry 
bit in the palni of the hand, where, with the 
help of a little moiilure, it produces a heat 
like that of a burning coal. But the quantity 
muft be carefully kept from the contaft of the 
Air \ for if it be diflblved per deliquium^ of by 
the aflfufion of common Water, it lets fall a 
copious powder ; from which the Salt being fe- 
parated, remains intenfely cauilic indeed, 
but lefs than it was before. 

(4.) If the moft highly reftified Spirit of 
Wine be poured upon it, the Spirit in a few 
hours time acquires a very intenfe red colour, 
and a cauftic tafte i and has this remarkable 
effeft withal, that it difcovers the conftituent 
parts of the highly reftified Spirit of Wine, and 
in a fhort time reduces almoft one half thereof 
to phlegm. 

(5.) If this Salt be added in about the pro- 
portion of a third, to a frefh parcel of Martial 
Regulus^ and urged with a very ftrong Fire, it 
runs with it into a tranfparent concrete, like 
Amber; of excellent fervice in making the 
Stellate Regulus ofj4ntimony *. 

81. That the cauftic property of this yilkali 
depends upon the fix'd Martial Sulphur, is far-. 

ther 

* &c tie besd of Antimony. 
L2 



^8 Simple Vegetable Salts. Part U 

ther matiffeft from this phxnomenon> that tho* of 
ir felf it will not melt widi a very intenfc Fire, yet 
prelcndy runs like Watcr^ if a Coal be thrown or 
liappen to fall into it. For the inflammable Sul* 
phur of the Coal being, becaufc finer, more in- 
timately combinable with the particles of Ni re> 
which contribute to the formation of this Alkali^ 
it is thus actually combined therewith, and in form 
of a Regulus throws down the metallic fubftance 
before mix*d with them ; by which means the 
Aikali b from this inftant totally deprived of ic$ 
cauftic property ; and the Concrete, in conipari- 
ibo of wliat it was before, becomes almoft infi- 
pid, eafy of fufion, and exhalable by a ftrong 
heat : all which is yet more apparent, if the 
operation be performed with the above men- 
tioned cauftic Salt, that has been already fufed 
and brought to the form of amber. For if this 
tranfparent S:ilt be again melted in a Crucible^ 
with the addition of a coal, and after that is 
confumed, the Salt be emptied, it now proves 
neither tranfparent nor cauftic \ but at the fame 
time there is alfo obtained a confiderable quantity 
of Regulus, tho* coarfe, and, from the admix- 
ture of the Sulphur of the Coals, arfenicul, again 
volatile, and, in refpeft of its former purity, 
fouh 

82. Such another fixM Salt as this is curforily 
mentioned by Becher*^ as prepared from the 
Martial Regulus and Tartar, And where Bufi 
Valentine orders the Stellate Martial Regulus to be 
drawn thro* the fire along 'with thtfton) Smkc, 
and thence promifes a certain pcrfeftly fiery or po- 
tentially hot matter; by tht fiony Snake j (anguoA 
lapideum feu fetrceum) he fcems to mean 
thing but Nitre or Salt-petre, {Sal Petra)*^ 



5upp/emcnt II. in Phyfic, .S\A*I 



§•1. Simple Vegetable Salts. 

indeed the above mentioned Salt, containing the 
metallic Sulphur of Iron, ^s we have Ihewn, 
by precipitating it in form of 4 Regulus, fcems 
topromife as much as that mentioned in D/gi/s 
ExpeHtnentu as pradifed bv Montefn)drr*. And 
that it (hould diffolve Golq in fufion,- is the Ids 
to be queftioned, h^cinic Becher'f fays of his 
Salt prepared with Tartar, that it dillolves me- 
tals in fufion. 

8 3 . The like alkaline Concretes are alfo made by 
calcining Nitre along with Quick-lime-, tho* 
the Nitre here fufFers a grjcat diminution, the 
more acid volatile Subftance or Spirit of the Ni- 
tre being now driven off, as in its diftillation with 
Bole ; whilft that part of it which in its paflage 
meets with the alkaline, or exceeding fubtile^ 
earthy or fulphureous particles of the Lime, con- 
cretes therewith into a different Salt, as wc fliall 
fee below ^, And as the alkaline earthy fub- 
ftance of the Nitre, which is the foundation of 
itsfolidity, remains after this feparation of the 
more fpirituous part, it is now, by the accretion 
of the very fined parts of the Quick-lime, (accor- 
ding to what was above obfc^rvcd ||,) brought in- 
to a morefixM, and confequently a morecauftic 
ftate. 

C^;/;;/;(?;; iSV///, like wife, being coagitated a- 
long with Quick-lime, either in a folid or fluid 
form, and again feparated from it by filtration, 
conftitutes a matter, which, when coagulated 
and run per deliquium in a Cellar, in fome de- 
gree precipitates acid Solutions, and diflblves 
Sulphurs, but neither fo intenfely as the Alka- 
lies before mentioned : nor does it refemblc 

Al. 

* Viile Bcrlichium dc Mcdicira Univcrlali, pag. 44. 
fjuppknwnt. I J. TJief. V I. § . 1 7 <> • 
f f Sf. of this Scaioti. tt S- 7* • ^^'^A* 



Alkalies in tafle, but is rather muriatic upon 
the tongue* 

Indeed common Salt of it felf, being once fo. 
fed, prefently runs per deltquium\ andfuch as wc 
conimonly buyi fometimes relents in moift wea- 
ther, according to the various errors commit^ 
ted in its preparation. And of this nature is that 
Salt juft now mentioned *, as made by the acid 
part of Nitre concreting with Quick-lime f. 

•/i/« ^4* '^^ ^^^^^ artificial Alkalies may, upon ac- 
liik- ^ count of its affinity, be added Ume^ an artificial 
C!^b€ "mineral Subftance procured by the calcination of 
tf-3u * certain fpongy or talky Stones, abounding with 
volatile, unripe, fulphureous parts, Thefe Stones 
are kept glowing in the calcination i fo that a 
portion cf this volatile matter being thus inti- 
mately niixM with the finer earthy parts, may 
form a corrofive fubftance, which ftill, from the 
iadhefion of other more grofs terreftrial particles, 
remains fixM in the Fire. 

Whence in Lime newly calcined, there are 
two fubftances contained -, the firft, a fubtile 
corrofive earthy matter, which enters into Wa- 
ter, tho' it communicates no remarkable tafte 
thereto ; whence fuch Water diflblves com- 
mon Sulphur, precipitates acid Solutions, fcfr. 
^ . the fecond, a groller matter, which, in the 
form of earth, remains at the bottom of the 
. Water, and feems to be the other, tho* not 

' pure, conftituent alkaline principle. 

• 'Tis here a remarkable phaenomenon, that 
the Water wherein the Quick-lime has been in- 
fufed, leaves fcarce any fix*d lubftance behind 
upon fimple evaporation ; whence it appears a 
kind of Paradox, that thk fubftance of t* 

Li 

J 1,1 I i.iwii.rjft_ji.i. ixjii ^"^' 

fSeef.8}. in ijiit. t See •^. * j. 



§.i. Simple Fegetable Salts. • 15 

Lime, fo long as it continues among thee* 
ther terreftrial parts, fhou-d remain fix'd in 
the moft violent fire, yet becomes volatile up- 
on being feparated from them. But if common 
Sulphur in powder be mix*d along with Quick- 
lime, and both boiled together in Water, the 
Decodlion becomes intenfely red ; when being 
filtred and permitted to evaporate, by the bare 
warm Air of a Stove-room, if it be Winter e- 
fpecially, the Water will leave at the bottom 
a grofs faline Sediment, that is in part cryftal- 
line i which, tho* it cannot be totally diffol- 
ved in Water again, yet fufficiently manifefts 
it felf of a faline nature, by having been once 
diffolved, tranfparent, and pafling the Filtre 
therewith. But we leave it to farther experi- 
ment, whether by this action the matter of 
thefe cryftals, that will not now again diflblve in 
Water, be from the Sulphur here acquiring a 
greater fixedncfs by combination, or by being 
confiderably altered from the refolution of its 
mixture. 

85. 'Tis alfo farther remarkable, and deferves 
to be better confider'd than hitherto it has been, 
what is the effeft of Quick-lime, when volatile 
Salts are commonly fuppofed to fix its Decoftion, 
and inftantly turn it to an unadtive earthy Calx. 
For if any volatile urinous Salt, as that ot Harts- 
horn, Urme, &?r. or the like urinous Spirits, be 
put to a Decoftion of Quick-lime ; or, according 
to Zwelferj even a newly diftill'd Water thereof, 
a certain fine Calx, in an earthy form, imme- 
diately appears, and falls to the bottom. 

But with regard to this Experiment, it ought 
to be farther examined, whether the Decoc- 
tion of Quick-lime be not commonly an j41- 
kali^ like that we above remarked as produ- 



Simple Vegetable Salts. Part 11, 

ced by the alkalization of Nitre and Salt * ; 
that is, whether it be not of an acid and earthy 
origin; whence in this Experiment the volatile 
alkaline Salt fhou*d rather come to be preci- 
pitated. 

Tho* that volatile Salts fhouM ht, fixM by 
Quick- lime, Teems contrary to' the common 
Experiment, where, by being mixM and dif. 
till'd along with Sal-ammoniac, an urinous 
and exceedingly volatile and cauftic Salt or 
Spirit is obtainM. But this Refolution appears 
to depend upon the proportion wherein the 
Lime is here ufcd ; (6 that if too much be 
employed, a difTerent quantity of the Spirit is 
raifed. 

This is certxin, that if the Spirit of Nitre, 
in order to make the aerial Magnet, or BahU 
win^s Phofphorus, be faturated with Chalk, 
there thence arifes a more infipid, bitterifh 
Concrete, not unlike to Lime^ as agreeing 
. with it in abundance of effe6ls. And herekt 
it be re iicmbred, once for all, that according 
us acid Salts are iaturated with different Earths., 
fo are they differently fcparable from tlicm a- 
gain by Fire ; and that they fo obftinatcly, 
or fo deeply fix in calcarious, chalky, and 
all unvitrifiable, yet foluble Earths, thatfcarce 
the leaft portion of them can be again fet free 
by the Fire, But this effeft is more eafijy ob- 
tained by the means of Water. 

86. The Ufe of Quick-lime in the affair of 
Metals deferves a particular regard-, fmce volatile, 
fulphureous, and arfenical Minerals are fo fub- 
dued by being mix*d therewith, and have thei** 
volatile, corrofive and degenerate parts lb iir 



*Sc:<f.8}. ofthisSeaion. 



§.2. Mineral Sulphurs. - 

The Experiments of Kunkel make for the 
affirmative-, for he undertakes to regenerate 
Sulphur from the acid Sprit of Sulphur^ and 
any other bituminous Subftance \ and in an- 
other place he even prpmifes to extraft com- 
mon Sulphur^ in great plenty, from this acid 
Spirit, not by combination, but by feparatioa 
and redudkion. To the fame purpofe makes 
the Experiment ofBecber^ where he fays, that 
iht Spirit of Sulphur 9 being firft deprived of its 
aftual common Sulphur^ and then joined with 
Antimony, or Regulus of Antimony, whkh 
holds a ftill poorer Sulphur, it does again, af- 
ford a true copious burning Brimftone. And 
elfewhere to prove that a metallic Subftance 
either aftually contributes, or may contribute 
to conftitute common Sulphur, he declared him- 
felf poflefsM of a way of totally converting An- 
timony, or its Regulus, into common Sulphur^ ^ 
which cannot by a feparation of parts be again 
reduced into Antimony. Mr. Boyle likewife 
has an Experiment ^yhereby he obtained a 
large quantity of true common Sulphur from 
Regulus of Antimony, or Antimony itfelf, di- 
gefted for feme time with Oil of Vitriol, and 
afterwards diftill'd, with a ftrong fire towards 
the end of the o^^eration. And Etmuller con- 
firms the dune thing from his own Experience, 
declaring, that by diftilling Turpentine from 
Oil of Vitriol, and increafing the fire at laft, 
he found a Sulphur fublimed, no way diftin- 
guifliablc from the common. 

The Phccnomena arifing upon the Solution 

of common Sulphur in Alkalies, feemtomake 

againft the C^ielHon. If to Oil of Tartar 

per deliquium^ or other ftrong alkaline Lixi- 

viam, pur into a Vial, about a, t\\vc^ ^wt. 

of common powdered Su\p\\ur bt aM^^> ^tA 



to return the Water once raifed, back upon 
the matter, now by a ftrong fire made red-hot 
in the bottom of the veflel^ But there is this 
difficulty, that fuch kind of vcffels being 
ufually made of Caft-Iron, eafily break when 
water comes uppn them in the ftate of igni* 
tion. This however may be prevented by 
fucccflively igniting the veffel before 'tis ufccl, 
keeping it red-hot for fome time ; then fuf. 
ferin'g it to cool gradually, as the Fire goes 
out of itfelf. 



S E C T^ II. 

Sulphurs. 

^^^ I, 1 1 Y the word Sulphur is commonly un- 
intbi jr\ derftood that mineral, faline, bitumi* 
""i/tt ^^^^ Concrete, which being once fet 

*^ on fire, difFufes itfelf in corrofive faline fumes. 
This Concrete is very well known ; but 
what the vulgar Chemifts, or literal Follow- 
ers of P^r^r^/^j, mean by the fulphureoUsPrin' 
€tple^ which, according to fome of them, makes 
a common and material part in the mixture 
of all bodies, is very obfcure. 

For altho* in the loofely compounded, or 
rather decompounded bodies of Vegetables and 
Animals, a certain inflammable oily Subftance, 
or liquid Sulphur, be aftually found, and in 
great plenty ; yet is there no fuch inflamma" 
ble Subftance, any way refembling commof 
Sulphur^ to be dilcovered in the more fimp 
mix^d hod'm of Minerals v fuch as Gem* 



§, 2, Mineral Sulphurs. 

5, All Sulphurs^ but mrdcularly the common % 
Sulphur^ coiuift: of a falinw% earthy Subftance,2J 
which alfo feems to be mix'd or compounded 
of a grof&r mineral matter % whence the liquid 
Sulphurs or Oils may, by fucceflively repeated 
operations, be fo divided, as totally to depofite 
their copious watery humidity, wherewith being 
connefted, by the interpofition of the faline part, 
they acquired their fluid form ; this faline fub* 
ftance being now, by the operations, concen- 
trated and fixM along with the earthy. 

That fuch is their compofition,^ we find not 
only confirmed by the conftant opinion of Be^ 
cber^ but alfo countenanced by this experi- 
ment, that thin aqueous Oils are fo improved 
by Spirit of Wine, as therewith to afford not 
only a purer and more penetrating, but alfo 
a much more durable flame, than if they were 
burnt alone. . ' 

*Tis alfo a remarkable Experiment of Be^ 
cber *, whereby he declares he can prepare an 
exceeding hot, yet perfeftly taftelels and un- 
inflammable Spirit from Cdals, Mud, Cifr. 
which by the addition of a due proportion of 
diftill'd Vinegar, becomes genuine inflamma- 
ble Spirit, 

But that one of the Principles of Sulphur 
is of a real earthy nature, that is, folid, dry, and 
when pure, neither inflammable nor volatile, 
appears from this, that when its finer, l:\line, 
aqueous, uninflammable, yet volatile parts arc 
feparated, the remainder readily adheres to 
the mott fix'd bodies, even thole of Metals, 
as Becber more than once obferves f. 

6, This 

♦ ScePhyfic.Sabtcmn. Scft-V. c.i. §,xy, 
t ^^'c Miner, ArenAr.pdg.QjCi ill. CouQOiiMiX.,C\YitcC\c* 



5 Mineral Sulphurs. Part II, 

Such mineral Stones as thefe therefore being 
thrown upon a fufEciently ftrong Fire, the 
Sulphur^ not enduring the neat, is forced from 
them, and partly rlfes upwards in fumes, which 
are caught in a mealy form^ by means of a 
proper arched ftrufture of the Furnace ; and 
partly melts, efpecially when 'tis contained in 
a large quantity, and running thro* the Fire, 
falls in form of Icicles, into the Afh-pit •, 
whence *tis vulgarly called Drop-Sulphur. 

'Tis alfo fometimes found native in thefe 
Minerals, of a dufky-yellow colour, and ftriate 
figure. This they cjxW Firgin^ or Foffil S id- 
• phur^ ox Sulphur Vivum. *Tis otherwife found 
native in a tranfparent cryftallinc form, with- 
out the afTiftance of Fire, and fometimes alfo 
in the form of Icicles : but for thefe par- 
ticulars we refer to the Writers of Natural Hi- 
ftory *• 

ffl«. 3. Whatever be the origin of comvion Sulphury 
^ipon *^^ appears of a compounded nature, upon its 
/^/i. analyfis. 

The common way of refolving it, is by 
deflagration, wherein it manifefts two diffe- 
rent Subftances •, for thus part of it rifing in- 
to the Air, affords a laline, corrofive, aftringcnt 
Subftance ; leaving a fmall quantity of a fix*d, 
black Earth behind. 

,€tb€r in 4. But whether this Acid contributes, in that 
i he a form, to the conftitution of Sulphur^ and be not 
J^""'"' the eflfcft of the Fire, dcferves a farther inquiry. 



* Vid. Phvfic. Curiof, Schotti i Mund. Subtcrran. J* 
DiObrt.dc SuJphurc, KoljincVi\\ & VViNtv:%^>3^'^ 
Sc(5l. VJ. Cap. V. §.f. pag.5iy» * 



§.i. Mineral SutphurL 

upon what is cabled the Hepar SulphurU ^, die 
3ulphur will be totally diublved. thereby, and 
fo become a Balfam, called Bi^^amum SuU 
fhuris ferebintbinatum. But by diftilladoii the 
Oil is again diftinftiy feparattfd from it,ahd the 
Sulphur left behind* * ' 

In like manner Spirit of Wine acouires a red 
colour upon the Hepar Sulpburis \ tho* this ra- 
ther proceeds from a mixture of the alkaline 
and fpirituous fubftance together ; fince the 
Spirit acquires the fame colour by (landing 
upon fimple ^/ii:^/^ 

8. TheH^/ar^ir//»i&i^W/is thadeby fufuig one^ 
part of common Sulphur with two parts of any ^ 
fix^d Alkali. I'he matter being ppur'd out of the m 
Crucible immediately upon fuuon» appears of a** 
red colour ; but if tne moift air comes at it in 
Its cooling, or it be made to relent by any other 
moifture, it becomes black. If to the matter 
whilft It is yet hot, and remains of a liver-colour, 
thediftill'd Oilofjfuniper, Anifeed, or the like 
be added, and gently digefted therewith for fome 
days, the Oil will acquire a purple colour, and 
being decanted, is called Balfamum Sulphuris Jii- 
niperinum^ or Anifatum^ &cl And in the fame 
manner may a Balfamum Sulphuris Succmatum be 
obtain'd. 

9. There Is a remarkable phaenomenon hap- d 
pening upon the folution of this Hepar Sulphur is ^^ 
in Water ; for the reddifti colour of the mafs m 
does not only here turn biack,but a copious black ''^ 
Sediment is alfo depofited •, arid this thoVthc 
Salt of Tartar employed were pure, and the Sul- 
phurtht moft volatile, or fublimed in the form 

iof:*. 



fSce^. 8. 6c f . 47. of this ScAiou. 



of Flowers, The fame thing happens when 5a/- 
fbur isdiffolvcd in a ftrong Lixiyium, ^nd jhe 
i}ltred LiqMor, now of a garnet-colour, in the 
gUfs, long detained in Balneo Maries i for thus 
the tranfparent foiution coflies to depofite the 
like black matter at the bottom. Aijd if the li- 
quor of tjiis folutbij of the He^ar Sulfhurisht de- 
canted from its black fcdiment, andfardier dige- 
fted, it again lets fall the fame e»rch ; which is 
proper to obferve, left the phenomenon fliouy 
otherwife be attributed to the fire, as the effed of 
aftual combuftion, when the lUpar Sulpburis was 
made. But whatever be the caufe hereof, or 
tho* it do ever fo much proceed from the fire, 
the fubftance itfelf deferves to be carefully exa- 
mined i for if it is not aftually of a metalline na- 
ture, we have certain reafons to think it fom^ 
thing that may be farther aflimilated thereto. 

ID. Becker appeals to Experience, when he zU 
fcrts * that this Earth of Sulphury or Sulphur re- 
duced to a fixM Earth, makes a metallic Increufi^ 
w almoft a kind of Tinilure ; rho* he elfewhere 
adv.ifes to fix it rather with OiJ of Vitriol f. But 
we are here to obferve, thattho* Bee her in fomp 
places does accordingly call \ns fixing Earth the a- 
cjueous or oily Earth of Vitriol, and fometimes 
remarkably afcribes it to Oil of Vitriol ; yet he 
very frequently in other places, declares it is found 
unmix*d in alkaline Salt : whence I am led to 
fufpeft that our prefent alkaline Earth, thus u- 
nited into a Concrete with the tinging Earth of 
Sulphur, want» nothing to its perfection but com- 
pleat metallization. To which purpofe, Becber 
has a Chapter, deferving the wtmoftattpnuon^i 

cnd- 

• * Miner. Arenar. pag.9 13,91 6,9 i7»9Z9. Pbyfic. SubW 
Sea.IlI. c.l. §. ult. 
f See f. #/. of this Sedlion. 
// Sc€ Miner ^ Arenar, p. ^Ji}~9i9i 



§.2. Mineral Sulphuti. %{ 

entitled. Metallization^ or the Introdu5lion of the 
Colden Sulphur into Mercury. 

1 1. It may not be here amrfs to give the Hi- 
ftory of an Experindcnt we made ourfelves, as it 
may afford fome light to this affair. I had read 
in Manufcript, the following Procefs for the Fix- 
ation of Silver. " Take the Aflies of Beech, 
*< Oak or Birch, and havinjg lightly moiften'd 
« them, form them into Balls as large as apples i 
J»< dry them, put them into a pot, lute it, and 
« let it ftand in a calcining Furnace .till the balls 
" become white ; then with hot Water make a 
<< ftrong Lixivium thereof, and in this diflblve 
^ as much comrpon Sulphur as it will take up; 
« filtre the folution, and digeft it in a vfery hot 
*' Bath, for four or five days 5 in which time there 
« will fall to the bottom a black matter like 
" Pitch,which is the Oil of tht Sulphur ; with this 
« OU imbibe the Calx of Silver, €$?<:." Having 
a great curiofity to fee fuch a pitchy fubftance 
obtained from 4S«//)A//r, which I no where remem- 
bred to have read of, I performed the Experiment 
fofar, and found it anfwer in every refped to the 
prefcription, except in affbrding tne pitchy mat- 
ter ; to procure which, was the principal reafon of 
my performing the operation : this however I 
bv no means obtained, and in its ftead only the 
black earthy matter lately mentioriM*. But 
when now the Liquor, by long digeftion, depo- 
rted no more of this earth, but Itill retain d its 
own remarkable fetid odour, I poured it out of 
the Vial into another Glafs, with a wide open 
^outh, and thus expofed it, on the South fide of 
the houfe, to the free Air of the Spring and Sum- 
n)er,andas it exhaled away, kept conllantly fup- 
plyingit with frefh Water j by which means all 
M 2 its 

*Scc f ^. of this Scftion. 



1 64 Mineral Sulphurs. Part II. 

its ill fcent fucceffively vanilh'd j its falinc fub- 
ftance became nitrous, yet its red colour coo* 
tinu'd all the time, and notwithftanding the re« 
peating exficcations and folutions, there was no- 
thing fell to the bottom ; nay, when to this gar- 
net-colour'd and fcentlefs Liquor. we pour'd the 
ftrongeft Vinegar, and even a few drops of Aqua- 
forlis^lt was no way muddied or precipitated there- 
by. At length, oy coagulation, I reduced this 
fubftance to drynefi, and melted a little of it 
with the powder of Fenice Glafs, which it thus 
tinged of amoft beautiful amethyft colour, 
nr Oleum 12. Among the other common officinal Pre- 
Jl5!w"il^t. parations of Sulphur^ that pf its Oil />^r Caw;/j- 
■Ml bc^ff nam is the principal : to obtain which, the Sulphur 
f^''^' is fet on fire, and its fume received by a large 
glafs VeffcU fet in an airy place, during a moifl 
or i*ainy feafon ; by which means, with great ex 
pence of Time and Sulphur, the fume graduall) 
condenfeson the fides of the veflel, and falls ir 
drops into the Receiver. 

The foundation of the operation depend 
principally upon this, that the Subftance 
the Sulphur, being, by the deflagration, re 
folved into very fine fume, be thus inter 
fperfed with very fine aqueous vapour, am 
thereby brought into a faline liquid form. 

Upon which footing, fome take the foUowinj 
method to procure this Oil, Having put a quar 
tity of diftilPd Rain-water into a large Vcffel c 
Wood or Glafs, fo as to leave a great pai 
thereof unfillM, they thruft a red-hot Iron int 
a heap of 5////)/^//r, which thus adhering theretc 
and burning, they immediately transfer it int 
the veflel •, and this operation they repeat u 
the prt left empty is fufficiently fiird widi tl 
fume : then fl:opping up the orifice of the vcffc 
they fluke the contained liquor to make it in 

• ' 3 : ^ 



§.2* Mineral Sulphurs. i6 

bibe the fiimc ; and thus they continue to do 
alternately till the Liquor has acquired a con- 
fiderable degree of acidity 5 after which they 
filtrc the Liquor, and evaporate the fuperfluous 
phlegm in Balneo. 

By thb Method the abovementionM lofs 
of the Sulphur is prevented ; but the labour 
is much greater than by the Bell. For in or- 
der to operate rightly, new fume cannot be 
fupplied more than four or fix times a day : 
thus, fuppofing the Operation performed in a 
Cucurbit; when this is once fill'd with fume, 
tho* the agitation be long andbrifkly continu* 
ed, a great part of the fume will ftill float above 
the Liquor; and fo either extinguifh the 
burning Sulfhur that is afterwards put in ; or if 
the Cucurbit be wide at the mouth, as much of 
the former fume will efcape thereat, as is fup^ 
plied by the next burning. 

The beft method, for this purpofe, wouM be 
to have a little Furnace fo fitted as that the va- 
pour of pure Water might be continually fup- 
plied within-fide a large bell or alembic-heaa *, 
and the fume of the burning Sulphur be con- 
ftdndy mix'd with it, either by means of the 
hand, or rather by the ftrufture of the Furnace : 
whence the Operation wou'd not only proceed 
the better, but twice or thrice more Oil be 
obtained than in the common method. 

13. 'Tis obfervable of common mineral 5»/-Suipbtt 
thur^ that it differs confiderably according to the /j^' ^^ 
different places it is found in, and the differcht //-^r • 
Metals 'tis along with. Thus the Sulphur fouhd^"'" 
along with the Ore of Tin in the Mines of JV/r/"- 
«w, and there call'd the Vulture^ proves of a 
golden nature \ and this to fuch a degree, that, 
^,lbi3)eof/i3/ Friends inform me^ ftomxVvtvccww 
M 3 WJtR:- 



i Mineral Sulphur$* Partly 

experience, if the ftone of this Sulphur be infufcd 
hi jiquare^ia^ or Spirit of Salt, and the Solution 
or Extraftion be precipitated with Mercury, pure 
Gold is found contained therein, *Tis a remark* 
able Example to the fame purpofe, mentioned by 
Becber^ and by Helvetius in his Vitulus Aureus^ 
of a Qtrtxm Hollander y who, by means of a SuU 
fbur^^ that was bought and fold for the com- 
mon fort, with great facility and by a flight ce- 
mentation, tranfmuted common Quick-fiJver into 
fine Silver. Becher alfo relates it of one Martin^ 
a labouring fellow, that he tranfmuted Silver in- 
to pure Gold, with a certain fulphureous, cryftal- 
line matter he had bought. 
Ml* 14, The common Methods of combining SuU 
r'/« /^^^^ along with other Bodies, are feen in the Pre- 
J/of parationof ^/7ri6i/and Cinnabar •, in both which 
^* common Sulphur is mix'd with Metals, and the 
Mixture intimately combined by a proper Fire, 
with the following Cirrumftances. 

In order to make the Vitriols of Iron or Cop- 
per, thefe Metals being reduced to plates or 
fmall pieces, are put into an ignited Crucible, 
and made red-hot in a ftrong firej at which 
time about a fourth of their own weight of 5///- 
fbur^ is by degrees thrown in upon them, either 
in powder or in little pieces, and the plates ftirr^d 
about with a rod of the fame Metal : thus if 
the Fire be fufficiently intenfe,the metal will be 
fufed into a friable mafs ; or without fufion the 
plates wiljneverthelefs become pulverable. 

This Powder iscaird the Crocus of Iron or 
Copper, prepared with Sulphur \ which is to 
be again mix'd with about an eighth of its 
own quantity of frt(h Sulphur^ and gently c» 
mented, fo as that the Sulphur may biuT* co" 
modiouf\y\ whilft the mafs is kept contimu 
^i'^nng^ to prevent its coTictt<\iv^ \Dto V»^ 



^2. Minetal Sulphurs. 

iMiTips, whence it woo'd not be equallr pete- 
trated by the Sulphur t This mskk of Powder^ 
whilft it remains hot, being thrown mta£btnr 
mon hot Water, and boiled f6r fome time 
therein, or till, iflron were the Metal employ* 
ed, the Liquor becomes of a green colour, and 
fweetifh tafte ; or if Copper, ota bloe cofour and 
nauieous bitter tafte \ the Liquor is now to be 
decanted,the Powder remaining at bottom^to 
be again cemented with frefh Sulphury and tht 
procefs thus to be repeated till a fufficient 
quantity of Vitriol is obtained. 

If the Filings of the Metals ar6 made choice 
ofy thefe Crocuses may be readily obtained by 
mixing the Filings with a fourth part olF SuU 
fhuKj and throwing the mixture by degrees in- 
to an ignited Crucible ; obferving to wait after 
each injedionfy till tlie former quantity, upon 
its concretion, fhall have changed its blacknefs, 
for a total and florid ignition. 

The Plates of thefe Metals might otherwife 
be Gratified with Sulphur^ and the Sulphur be fee 
on fire in a moderate heat, without igniting the 
yeffel ; and kept burning till its whole quantity 
is confumed : by which means the Plates will 
likewife be made friable. 

Cinnabar is obtained by melting common^ 
Sulphur with a foft heat, in a Glals or Cruci- *« 
blc, and whilft it remains fluid and gently 
fmokirig, adding four times its quantity of 
Quick-filver, and ftirring thcwhole together, 
till it concretes into a black mafs \ which is to 
be ground, put into a Cucurbit, and gradually 
fublimed in a fand-heat, with care to keep 
up the Fire fufficiently ftrong, in order, to 
niake the colour more florid •, fo that above 
two or three hours Ihould not be fpent in 
mlimlng half a pound of the M\xtut^, ^nxx. 
M4 



Mineral Sulphurs, Part II, 

^tis very remarkable, that if a flow fire, and a 
large proportion of Sulphur be employM, the 
Cinnabar f;hus prepared will not only prove 
blacker, but more nxM, fo as fcarce to fublime, 
tho' the veiTel be made red-hQ^*, and then too 
but uriequally. I 

* 15, We cannot quit this fubjcft of common 
^^^ Sulphury without farther obfcrving the great en- 
deavours of many Artifts to fix it •, which vc 
have already hinted * can fcarce be hoped for, to 
gny good purpofe, before the acid part is fepa- 
rated from the intimate union of the Water, 
which enters the compofition of this Acid, as it is 
a Salt ; unlefs the thing be otherwife efFefted, 
not per fey but by addition or combination. 

This has been attempted by Combination^ of 
which there are two remarkable Methods ; the 
one by means of Oil of Vitriol 5 the other by 
means of Mud, Lime, faturated Alkalies, lie 
The foundation of the Operation reftshcre, 
that the very fubtile terreftrial particles, where- 
of the concentrated Spirit or Oil of Vitriol, is, 
as it»were, a fluid mafs, fhou'd be mix*d, by 
flow digeftion, along witK the tinging Earth of 
the Sulphur ; and that by this digeftion there 
ihou'd be a feparation made of the like acid 
particles, then exifting in the Sulphur^ from 
their aqueous part. 

The reafon of this Foundation or Suppofition 
J take to be as follows. 

(i) If the moft attenuated Oil of Vitriol, un- 
der the form of a volatile, fulphureous Spirit, 
be farther diluted with a large quantity of 
Water, and this diluted vol itile Spirit be long 
kept, or very gently digefted ii> a clofe V 



. -i.' » ■ I II I . I n il "" '■'■ ,wa.j.T 



f i>ci f . 7, ohi^% Se^ion^ 



£2. Mineral Sulpburu 

rUatfde canbir tmmt will ac Icn^ i 
uuM die rurace ot' die Uqpof^ m fonn of a 
rcry chin ^ace, chat flunes likt Slvcr, and 
u|>ooflaking cfaeireflel, breaks, likea ^afly 
mutff into IfCCle leaves orfcUo, that fink to 
i\)t Mtom. And diis concinues to happen, 
rill M die fulphureous odour c^chc liquor is at 
[Jt mtirely vanUhM i the material caufe there- 
of being by this means feparated from the af- 
foci^iCion of the Water } whence the Spirit in 
imlci\wmc lofci iti faline nature. 

(t) When Sulphur is digefted perfe^ 'tis un- 
rii|)ame, by reafon of the unflexible and pow- 
(li y make of its fmall particles, of receiving 
that fcpratory attrition, which ought to break 
ilicfahne connexion of its acid) and befides, 
it prcfcntly flies away from the Fire : But the 
aiKliiioi\ of the Oil of yitriol provides ogamft 
tnuh thtle inconveniencics \ as it not only may, 
inihii mineral fubjeA, perifbrm the bufinefs (^ 
trituration, foraierly mcntionM of Water in 
iKc action of FcmitntatkM ^ i but as a more 
suiiUc heat is here rtouirtd, to which the Oil 
i^i Yitriol vkirs not ykid, as being the true Hinr^ 
mii<ji Seal for this Work i hence the Sulphur, 
yk Ixis h i« othci wile voUtilc, if by iflclf expoied 
u* i.l\e ittm>cdUcc imrulie of the Fin:, ui held 
\hyki\ by the Oil ot' VicrtoI» iurin^ die whcic 

U' ^hc Cwicrcce reiulcaxg nvin :ix;s Occn- 

!uic Sf.unl?i^ \c ivKied :« cie :::cr;: .iier^ir:^ 
Mtd vnhit^r MecaX ic «:iiy rwx^v!ci oniiKk 
v/* ^i\>^s oiic %ici :hc*.xi» -uni j:ves rieii x 

:2. 3v 



■ ->^' Av-na. .wxoo-, MtuM >. >:^» ;:*• 



ro Mineral Sulphurs. Partll 

x6< By tMAm 6f ^dd, Lirtie, Sand, ^^, ^ 
part of tne Sulfbut h fix^d and made ca unite with 
4 kind df/r/? nletallk Earth, that lies concea- 
led m thcfe Concretes. Thhi is effeftdd by te- 
dudng the Sutpbur to fkiwder, mht?ng it along 
with thefe bodies, andfofimply, or rather kv- 
Jng firft forni'd thenni into balls^ that the Fire 
may the better pafe thro' them, diftilling them 
in cldfe Vcffels or Retorts, in order td recover 
the Superfluous Sulphur i the Fire being gen- 
tle at firfl:, but faifed at laft fo as to make 
the Veflel red-hot. Thus, the fuperabundant Sul- 
phur being brdught dff, the btills may be ground, 
and eli)tatedi whence the rhoft ponderous dor- 
pufcles falling to the bottdm, they nriay be tti- 
min'd, iffoft, by theMntgrlet, by Amalgamatidn, 
or Fufion with Borax i if hctra, by the Touch- 
ftone. Solution in Aaua r^gia^ &c. and by Preci- 
pitation with aDiflblution of Tin or Mercury^ 

1 7, There are alfd other Methods of fixing 
Common Sulphur^ and bringing h: into a metal- 
line Increment 5 the principal whereof are exhibi- 
ted by Becker *. The Foundatbn of the Opef a- 
tion regards the aftual and potential aurification 
oi Sulphur. Thus, if a fulphureous Marcafite 
contain aftual Gold, and be treated with Lead 
alone, or with the addition of Antimony, the 
Gold will, in the common manlier, be imbibed 
by thofe bK)dies : but when the Gold is only po- 
tential, 'tisfixM and brought from its potential 
to an adlual ftate, by Calcination with Lead, am 
digeftion with Alkalies and Lixiviunis, faturatec 
with the Acid, dr original Earth of Vitriol : th( 
Gold in this Cafe uniting to the Lead, a meta 



♦ Concordant. Cbymic. Seft.l. 4ft S\A^V»wt* 



i^^ Mineral Sulphurs. 

;hat li teiy mercurial ; as \t does eo the fubtSle 
rirthr ritrefcible particles of chealkaline lixiviom, 
wttrrcb/ it chuift becomes confolidated. Whence 
wft are to t%\yc6i more of a nobly tinged metal 
from the repeated Sulphurations of Lead; but 
rriorc of a harder and whiter metal from bare Di« 
j/rflionnwith alkaline, or terreflrial and metallic 
Ijxiviiirm. 

1 8. '1 w of a fomewhat more abftrufe Confide- 
niioii, what Hecber\\M collcfted in his Chapter de 
hli^o't^^ concerning the metallization of iJ^/- 
I'lw by Mercury, or the making and fixing of 
I iimalur. Where we arc to confider not only 
ilui pf ojH)fccl of a bare digeftion of the Cinnabar, 
but of thai princiiwUv which is efFcfted with the 
uklitutu of CJoKl or Silver, And this particular- 
ly wlu:n not the crude plates or filings of thefe 
Nlri,ils, lull their fine Calces are taken for the O* 
\\\\\w\ \ ia which Ibate they will be fo much the 
luvMvJilivtcd loallinulatcwith the Mercury of 
\\\< liilphurvvus Concrete, 

K\M \ AS Ciiuiabar tocnis to be nothing cJfe. 
luu ,\u inutuuurc MciaU or rather a confuted 
n\%.il!iv Mutct ; it ap^vars «r\' probable that 
Ji'.»uu.l>v l^wtlxxu dcxjuir^f ^ tlitHcient degree 



f^ViV \ 


.tviv vv;; 


r.;;vc 


v' .^ 




cn wN 


' \7iV 


ar::^, or 


1 1 i;vv 

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: 7 2 Mineral Sulphurs. Part \\ 

tinued Fumigation of 5W;)i&«r*; to which may be 
added that of Afcri^/i which he rclatesf oXMon- 
tanusy who keeping Copper in long continued 
fufion^ and from time to time throwing 5«/^i«y 
into the melted mafs, at length thft crucible 
breaking, found an Icicle gf Gold fldl from ii 
into the Alh-pit. To the fame purpofe we haY( 
an Inftance in the little Treatife of ^Jfaying by 
Modejlin Fafch^ and abundance of other the liki 
Authors, under the Tttle of the way of feparatinj 
Gold from Copper ; where they order commoi 
Sulphur^ and lometimes Antimony, to be re 
peatedly thrown upon the melted mafs, the Scori 
of the Sulphur bemg taken off after each injec 
tion ; whence at length a little body of Gold wil 
be feparated and found at the bottom. 

The Procefs appears more promifing fo 
the Separation of aftual Gold ; but the rej 
fon hereof belongs to the Heads ol Gold an 
Copper ; of which hereafter. In the mea 
time 'tis worth confidcring, whether in th 
treatment Gold be not by the Sulphuration ii 
troduced into the Copper •, which I leave ( 
farther Experiments. 

CINNABAR. 

cifwabtr 20, Nelct after common Sulphur comes Ch 

'^^'^as 'tf ^^^^^ » ^ mineral Concrete, compofed of Su 

0^jiVisL phur and Mercury mix'd together in the Mines 

The difference of this Subftance is by fon 

affign*d to the difference of the places whe; 

it grows ; thus in particular, the native //« 

garian Cinnabar is moft efteeni*d, as beir 

frequently found in the Gold-mines, But i 

confider the thing candidly and thorou 

— ^ 

• Bccher. Concord. Chym.dcTiuaur* Siil^Kh. 
t In Epia. de Tranfmut. Met^ot. 



§.2. Mineral Sulphurs. 

there is nothing cxtraordinarjr difcoverM of it, 
befides the empty tranfcriptions and fervile 
imitations of pratling authors, copying and 
praftifing one after another. For as in all 
fenfible qualities, in its feparation by means of 
Lixiviums, and Iron^ by the precipitation of 
Lac Sulf hurts from fuch a Lbcivium, the fubli* 
mation thereof, and all other kinds of treat* 
ment, it gives the fame proofs as common 
Sulphur, and the ^mficid\ Cinnabar made 
therewith ; and as in the pra&ice of phyfic 
it appears, if duly confider'd, to have no more 
advantage, there is no foundation for any dif- 
ference between them. 

21. With regard to the mixture of Cinnabar j^ 
it is compofed of common inflammable Sulphur J5 
and running Mercury, upon this account, thaf*" 
the tinging earthy part contain'd in the Sulphur, 
and the Ipecific metalline part contained in the 
Mercury, readily combine together i but by rea- 
fon of the heterogeneous parts adhering to both, 
they cannot come into a pure, firm and conftant 
union : whence hot only artificial Cinnabar is made 
bv a mixture of common Sulphur and Quick- 
filver ; but the native alfo is eafily feparated in- 
to thofe two parts. The manner of making ar- 
tificial Cinnabar we have already defcribed *. 
In order to refolve native Cinnabar into its 
two component parrs, let it be boiled in a 
ftrong Lixivium; which will thus diflblve its 
Sulphur, and let the Mercury fill to the bot- 
tom. If the Mercury there appears not fpon- 
taneoufly in a running form, but lies like a 
Ciilx, in powder ; it may, when the liquor is: 
decanted, be edulcorated with common Water, 

and 

^^ f H.of thisScdioa. 



r ^4 Mimral Sulphurs. Part B 

zj%i giwod with » little Vinpgar, in a glaj 
Mortar. 

Or, the Cinnnh^r may be boiled with ar 
equal or a double weight of Quick-lime, jr 
a fuflicient quantity of Water; then, the 
tinged liquor being ifeltred, and again a Jittl( 
water poured to the remainder^ and boiled 
d]ierewith \ and this fecond liquor being aire 
filtred •, the Sediment of the Lime is to be dried, 
ftod diftill'd in a Retort, with a naked Fire, 
which will thus drive over the Mercury, that 
lay conceard in the Lime, into a Receiver fei 
fo full of Water, that the nofc of the Retort, 
or rather the extremity of the fecondary neck 
fix'd on, may be plunged into it. 

The tinged Liquors that were filtred, being 
precipitated with Vinegar, afford the LacSul- 
f hurts ; which by a gentle Sublimation rifcs in- 
to Flowers of Sulphur. 

So likewife if Cinnabar be mix*d with filings 
of Iron, and diftiird in a Retort ; the Sul- 
phur thus coming to melt will faften upon 
the Iron, and let go the Mercury, which 
therefore comes over into the Receiver, 

22, That refufcitation is more remarkable, 
when the Cinnabar is mix'd with about half its 
weight of Regulus of Antimony •, for the Cin- 
mbar^ whether native or faditious, being thus 
diftiird, affords very largely of Mercury, fo 
that from eight ounces thereof, fomctimes feven 
ounces, fometimes fix and a half, one while 
more, another lefs, will come over •, which fonie 
remark as an Increafe from the reguline fub- 
ftance of the Antimony, or its partial mere*'"*" 
fixation. 

The general foundation of the Rcl 
/ -riofl depends upon this^ that the f'*' 



Jj.^. Mmral Sulphurs. 

\ p^ of the Cinnabar 9 being more readily coqa^ 
binabie with the Regulus of Antimony, unices 
itherewith and quits the Mercury •, which not 
ibeing able to fuftajn the heat, rifes in the di- 
itillation. 

But thofe who aflert, that the Mercury Am- 
ply revived from Cinnabar is better than that 
commonly fold in the Shops, ought to prove 
it by experiment. For all the Mercury com- 
nionly vended, except the virgin Mercury, is 
itfelf revived, as we Ihall fee in its proper 
placp. 

23. Now as there are two metallic Princi-jni 
pics found join'd together in Cinnabar ^ if a third ^f^ 
be added that wou'd fix them, bring them to Mt 
bear fufion, and detain them therein, ir muft 
thenaftualjy become of a metalline nature ; for 

. which purpofe imbibitions and digeftions with 
vitriolic fubftances, efpecially with the addition 
of the Calces of the more noble Metals, pre- 
pared without corrofives, are recommended ; an 
example whereof may be fcen in Becber *. 
They undertake a more empty Tafk who 
attempt to fix Cinnabar by gentle Dlgeftion, 
without addition -, unlefs by a frequent reite- 
ration of the Fire the matter be fublimed, 
ground again, refublimed ; and thus the work 
being long and often repeated, the Cinnabar 
is at laft fuccefliveiy thrown into a more no- 
ble Metal in fufion, along with fuch things as 
may therewith materially contribute to a me- 
tallic incineration. 

24. But Sublimations of Cinnabar^ as alfo of £/' 
common Sulphur, «vith Gold, tho' frequently re- nmi 

pcated, <^9li 

' 'V/ncr, Arcnar. pag. 868, (ye. 



6 Minerat Sulphufi. Part It 

peated) will carry off nothing from it that is 
changed in i^ nature; unlefs the Gold be firft 
by very diffieult operations, nearly or aftually 
reduced to the ftate of a running Mercury: for 
tho* it Ihou'd happen that the Cinnabar^ bebg. 
violendy propellM, and therefore under a folid 
contexture, as it were, its aggregated particles 
following one another very thick and clofe, did 
adlually carry up along with it fome very Tub- 
tile particles of the calx of Gold;, yet thefe, for 
any medicinal purpofe efpecially, wou*d have no 
greater efFeft, as being no more changed, than 
if they had been occafionally ground with Ci«- 
nabar in a Mortar. 

It were indeed to be wi(h*d, that the Cm- 
nabar of Gold^ or the Mercurification of that 
Metal, which happens under the fame opera- 
tions, were fo eafily obtainable, as 'tis pro- 
pofed by Becher*. For altho* Gold be kindly 
and very fubtily refolved by that called the 
filent Solution ; and tho* the Precipitation or- 
dered with Spirit of Urine be very confidera- 
ble ; yet that total Sublimation, as 'tis pro- 
mifecl, of the Gold with the Sulphur, difap- 
points the expeftation, and deceives the ap- 
pearance : for if the Crocus of Gold, by this 
means precipitated, be farther treated with 
Sal-ammoniac and due Digeftion ; a different 
efFeft will be obtain'd 

f afford 25. To finifli this head of Cinnabars^ let it 
wifc-^ obferved, that 5(?^*<?r declares the pbilofophi^ 
7. ' cal Mercury^ as 'tis called, may be eafily pre- 
pared from them f. And the lame thing feenis 



* Concord. Chym. in Concord. Mercurior. Expcn 
o&SLi^, pig' 199. 

f ScePhy&c. Subtcrraa, Scft.WV Gjw*' 
Op.S. $.8i. 



§.2. Mineral Sulphurs. 

to be meant by the enigmatical difcourie 6f that 
author, who calls himfclf Pantakon. And in- 
deed to thofe who have this kind of expeftation, 
we earneftly recommend the Method above- . 
mentioned * of reviving Mercury from Cinnabar^ 
by the Martial Regulus of Antimony; a new 
Sublimation of this revived Mercury with ful- 
phureous Flints or Gold-Sand, into Cinnabar 
again; and a frequent repetition of thefc opera- 
tions alternately. 

r//£ SULPHUR OF JN'tlMONr. 

26. Next after Cinnabar comes jl^ttimom ; a a 
fulphureous and mercurial Subjeft: whofe fulphu- '^ 
reous nature appears direftly, by throwing it 
upon live coals, or fetting it on fire in a vefTel % 
where it burns with a blue flame, and corrofive 
acid fumes. But tho* it be thus eafy to demon- 
ftrate, that Sulphur is aftually contained in this 
Subjedt ; *tis very difficult thence to feparate it 
in a pure ftate, except in the preparation of Cin- 
nabar. ♦ 
Its Separation is ufually attempted by Al- // 
kalies, or by boiling it in lixiviums ; as alfo by 
fufion with i\lkalies, and elixating the mat- 
ter ; the filtred Liquor being in both cafes 
precipitated by gentle Acids. But thus the 
Sulphur falls toul, and mix*d with heteroge- 
neous, metallic and arfenical matters ; whence 
it caufes Vomiting, as much, and in the fame 
manner, as Antimony itfelf : and 'tis alfo ob- 
ferved to burn but little, and dimly. .It may 
however be purified by a gentle Sublimation 
alone 5 which raifes it into flowers like thofe 

of 

* Sec f . zi, of ti^ij Scftion. 



8 Mineral Sulphurs. Part 11. 

of common Sulphury or ftill better with the 
addition of Mercury, wherewith it afccnds in 
the form of Cinnabar : whence, the reguljne 
parts, having been previoufly unfheathed by the 
aft of precipitation, they are eafily forfakcn by 
the Mercury, asconftantly happens, andaMo 
• by its own Sulphur, 

There is another remarkable Method of 
thb refufcitation, wliich we owe to Mr. 
Bo^le \ who having long digefted Antimoti) 
with Oil of Vitriol, and at length drawn oflf 
the Oil by diftiUation, and ufing a ftrong Fire 
at lall, obtainM a very large quantity of Sul- 
phur, ii\ no rel'pcft fenfibly differing from the 
common* And Becker aflerts the fame thing 
may be likewife effeded with Spirit of Salt, 
But there ftill remains a doubt, whether this 
be a pure Separation, or not rather a Con^ 
cretion happening irt the Operation, 

jiM ^7' Thebeft, and in many refpeds themoft 
tuttcr advantageous Separation, ana inftantaneous Con- 
cimia- jijndion of the pure antimonial Sulphur, hap- 
pens in the Preparation of the Butter and Cin- 
nabar of Antimon'j^ after the common Method ; 
for here the metallic, arfenical part of the An* 
timony being corroded by the common Salt, or 
its highly concentrated Acid, readily diffolyes 
the connexion of the Sulphur j which now im- 
mediately faftens upon the adjacent parts of the 
Mercury, 

This happens in greater plenty if the golden 
Sulphur of Anlimcrry be ufed inftead of ^»/i- 
pio^y itfclf i bur in lefs quantity waen tlie Re- 
gulus of Antiinon\ ii m. de cno.ce of. The 
Buiccr is obtain* <3 l;y niixing Mercury-Sabli- 
mate with an equal quantity of A>ilimon) \ />r 
twice, or at Icait once v\aci Ua\S wsk v^^^^"^^^ 



i^ 



o\ 



§.2.^ Mineral Sulphurs. 

of the Golden Sulphur of Antimony \ and driy<h 
ing it over with a fufficient degree of Fire, ap- 
plied both above and below, for the fpace of 
an hour, or an hour and half, fo as to keep 
it continually increafing, and the velTel always 
in a glowing heat *, by which means alfo^ the 
Cinnabar will be raifed into the neck of the 
Retort, and appear of the finer red, as it wa? 
forced up by the ftronger Fire. 

28. If the Scoria of thtKt%}j\mot Antimony ^M 
fimply prepared either with Salt of Tartar, Nitre, -^ 
Tartar itfelf, or Pot-afh, or the Hepar Anti-A 
monii be diflblv'd in Water, and this Solution be 
negligently left in an open veffel upon the fub- 
Tiding Crocus Metallorwn^ in a place expofed to 
the Air, tho' not to the Sun, in Summer, and 
new Water be at times fupplied, as the other 
evaporates -, the Liquor being at length decant- 
ed, and filtred, the Crocus wa(h*d from its fa- 
line parts, and committed to a gentle Sublima- 
tion, an exceedingly fubtilizM Sulphur will be 
thence obtained. And no wonder it is fo fubtile^ 
finceeven the Crocus being, before Sublimation, 
mix'd with Nitre, it does not fulgurate therewith; 
but the Sulphur, with a gentle heat, fucceflively 
burns away, in a white and nimble flame, and 
fcarce fo much as fparkles with the Nitre* 
The reafon of this Succefs lies here, that 
the Sulphur of the Antimony being imbibed 
by the Alkalies, and whilft thus diflblved there* 
by, expofed to the Air for a long time •, the 
original nitrous particles that float about in 
the Air, during the Spring and Summer-Sea- 
fons, join themfelves by degrees with thefe 
diflblved Alkalies, . and thus convert them into 
Nitre : but at the fame time there happens a 
//OH^Precipitation of the Su\d\vw\j^^w^^\%An''' 



) Mineral Sulphurr. Part H 

by thc^kalies % wherein the Sulphur let fall is 
fo much the lefs changed, than it wou*d have 
been by the fudden precipitation with Apa 
fortis^ as this fucceffive concretion of the ni^ 
trous particles in the Air, and the fubfequent 
precipitation of the Sulphur, the lefs approaches 
that violent coagitation, and colliquative con- 
cuflion which happens in the effcrvefcence of 
A(iua fonts with fixM Alkali * 

^llE SULPHUR OF VITRIOL 
it \ 29 • '*Tis the Opinion of many, that Vitriol 
ibr ' comes next to Antimony in its participation of 
55^"/ Sulphur ; whence of late years we frequently 
meet with the Titles, Sulphur of Vitriol^ TinSlurt 
, of the Sulphur of Vitriol^ &c. But fome others 
appear to have mifemployM the Word only. 
The former feeing the Ochre that is depofi- 
ted by the Solutions of Vitriol^ digefted for 
fome days, refemble the yellow colour of 
Sulphur, took this metallic, earthy matter 
for Sulphur \ efpecially before the manner of 
preparing artificial Vitriol had difcovcr'd what 
the natural was. So that from the verbal pre- 
fcriptions of thefe Men, for the precipitation 
of this mi'.tter, nothing of Sulphur is to be 
expefted, if pure Vitriol, or any Solution of 
; Vitriol that has once been filtred, be employed 
The latter by the name of Sulphur of Vitriol^ 
whether that of Iron, or Copper, do not under- 
ftand the whole Compofition, but the Principle 
of common Sulphur, or fixM Sulphur, as they 
call it, that is neither inflammable nor vola- 
tile, but tinging and augmentative of Metals i 
which whoever knows how to preparer 
concentrate in Gold, or intimatelv ^' 



ire upon this Subjcfit, uxyte 



§,2. Mineral Sulphurs. 

with Silver, and this in a large quantity, will 
receive much more advantage iroiti ic, than 
if all the fubftance precipitable from Vitriol 
were common Sulphur. 

But whether this fixM .Sulphur, as 'tis called, 
may be exalted To as to have thofe remark- 
able anodyne efFefts in medicine, which fome 
practical peoi^e relate of it, is not hitherto 
manifcft from experience. 

30. The Subftance that commonly paffes un-7 
derthe name oi Sulphur of Vttnot^:\% feparatcdM 
from the Crocus, prepared by precipitation, with > 
Oil of Tartar per deliquiumi by pouring dulcified •' 
Spirit of Nitre or of oak thereon, and digefting 
.them together for fome time. 

But for chemical ufes, 'tis obtained from the 
Caput mortuum of Vitriol, long reverberated, 
and mix*d with Vinegar, Alum, common Salt, 
and Sal-ammoniac j which, according to Vi- 
gam *, riiakes the Ens Veneris of Mr. Boyh ; 
and ispropofed by Becberf^ as Helmont's EU- 
mentum ignis Veneris^ or the fecret Fire of Cop-- 
per \ the repeated Solution and Coagulation 
whereof, till it will no longer concrete into a 
dry Subftance, but remain, like Oil, in a con- 
tinual fluid form, as it is propofcd by Becber^ 
well deferves to be confider'd. There arc va- . 
rious other Preparations of this jix\i Sulphur 
l^irgcl]^ delivered by Becber % \ and which re- 
ceive farther light from the volatilization of 
Its Tinffure obtained from Iron with the But- 
ter of Antimony, as mentioned by Glauber ||. 
_ N 3 But 

• Mcdul.Chym. pag.f, 

t Rofet, Chymic. Expcrim. 14. fob fincm, 
iiiftn^^^' Chym. ia Coacordautu MwxSai^vxm^Cot^sa- 
7?^X. P^M^iiationura, five itr Elnfcrinttn. 



Mineral Sulphurs. Part II. 

But more of this Subjeft under the heads of 
Copper andiron. 

^HE SULPHUR OF NITRE. 

,^ 31. Ic appears more paradoxical, wh^t Becher 

^ in his Subterrdnedl Ph'jftcSy propofes, and every 

5/, where maintj^ins in his Writings, that the Earth 

of Sulphur, which conftitutes the tinging Principle 

thereof, with regard to Metals, lies concealed, and 

is to be found in Nitre. 

For tliv)' it In' nn old tradition, that the red 
coloui wiach Spirit of Nitre manifefts in its 
diftillation, proceeds from the Sulphur of the 
Nitre 5 yet in reality this favours of no more 
on one fide than a bare verbal tranfcription and* 
prefumption •, and on the otlier, of a general 
Suppofition that all colours arife from Sulphur: 
which, taken abfolurely, isfi^lfc, fince we have 
no Inftance of any fuch a6Vu.il Separation of 
Sulphur from Nitre: tho* Becker indeed endea- 
vours to exhibit this Subftance to the eye*, 
where he treats of the Soul of Nitre. 

This fubftance Becbcr ftill flirther attempts 
to render profiLible, and demonftrate its . 
metallic Increment \ where he recommends the 
digeftion of a Solution of Silver, made with 
Spirit of Nitre, from whence a fmall portion 
of the contained Silver will daily be depofited, 
in form of a black Calx, or alpioft Golden 
Subftance f. But as a particularly prepared 
Spirit of Nitre is required for this purpofe, 
and alfo a particular purification thereof; *tis 
proper to confult the feveral places of the 
Author, v^here thefe things are menrion'dF 

af 
' ■ ■ , J ■ ■ ^ ' ■ ^' T '? > ' ■ ■ ' " ' • * • 

* Pbyac. Subrcrran. Scft.V, Cap. i. ^. wS, w^. &c« 
f^Sce Miner. Arenar. pag. 877. 
"^ Cpiicord, Chym. p. ^18,7 H^ VI V^^^ 



&2. Mineral Sulphurs. 

and to them may likewife be added what Fafcb 
in his little Ireatife of AJfapng has under the 
head of the Sediments of DeparhJVaters. 

32. A certain fulphureous Subftancc feems^ 
more eafily procurable from Nitre, by pouring to £, 
the well-redified Spirit thereof, about a fourth- »ii 
part of Oil of Turpentine •, and coagitaring themv! 
together for a day, by a very gentle lukewarm di* Ni 
geltion ; or, if tne veffel be (ufficiently large, by 
ebullition, with a greater degree of heat for a 
quarter of an houn For thus, the Oil of Tur- 
pentine, both in fmell, tafte, colour, confiftence 
and every other refpeft, will perfe&ly refemble 
the Balfam of Sulphur. But the Spirit of Nitre 
remaining after the Operation is over, becomes 
unfit to perform another ; from whence itfeems 
manifeft, that it has fufFered fome certain fepara* 
tion of its parts. 

The Experiment fuccecds differently, if to 
the above mentioned proportion of Spirit of 
Nitre and Oil of Turpentine, a like quantity 
as of the latter, of highly rectified Spirit of 
Wine be gradually and with a light hand, let 
fall i fo as that it may float upon the Oil of 
Turpentine. The matters being now cxpofed 
to the heat of a lamp-furnace, for half a quar- 
ter of an hour or lefs, will bubble up very in- 
tenfely ; and when the agitation is over, the 
Oil of Turpentine floating above, will not ap- 
pear of a red, but of a grafs-green; tho* m 
cooling it degenerates into the fame red co- 
Jour again. 

But it is remarkable, that this Balfam of 
Sulphur may, together with the Sulphur it con- 
tains, be diftiird over, with a gentle heat of 
Sand \ as wc found by the following Ex^erl- 
mcnt. 



f 



Mineral Sulphurs. Part II. 

Having reduced thb Balfam into little balls, 
along with fealed Earth, and put them into a 
fmall glals Retort, and fet it in a Sand-Fumacc, 
with a foft fire there firft came over pure drops 
of Oil of Turpentine ; and thefc were followed 
by red ones, fuch as they were put in, only more 
fluid. But upon increafing the degree of heat 
Tatlaft, there arofe brown aqueous drops •, which 
in fmell, tafte and confidence cou*d hardly be 
diftinguilh'd from Spirit of Tartar. 

But upon adding Oil of Tartar per deliquium 
to the Spirit of Nitre, from whence, with the 
Oil of Turpentine, the red colour was extrac- 
ted, there arofe a dulky mixture, of an intenfc- 
ly refinous fragrancy . 

33. Thus far we have confider'd fuch Sulphurs 
of the mineral kingdom as have a near affinity 
with the common ; it remains that we confider 
thole which in the fame kingdom recede farther 
from it, tho* they ftill rei\iain inflammable. 

Bitumen^ and the purer Species thereof i^- 
fbaltumy the more impure, as Pit-coal^ and hi* 
tumhioi'S ^nrfy arc all of a mineral or fubter- 
rancal Subftance ; yet in their pitchy matter, 
they rather refemble vegetable than the com- 
mon mineral Sulphur. But for thefe, with all 
their dependent Species, as being little fit- 
ted for phyfital, medicinal and cheniical ope- 
moons, we refer to the Writers of natural 
Hiftory. -.. 

Petroleum indeed is better fitted for medicinal 
ufes ; and by a fjngle chemical 0|)eration, b^ 
comes the Oleum Term^ viz. by being imbibed 
or mix*d with'a latericious Eanh, in fragnW 
or ill powder, and driven over from it agJ 
by diftillation in a Retort ; whence it bccToin 
much ware |)crncrrating and fuW 
I 



i2* Vegetable Sulphurs. 

fore, and at the fame dme throws off a part 
of ics aqueous SubA'ance. 

VEGETABLE SULPHURS* O R^ 
ROSINS AND DISriLVD OJLS: 

34. Vegetables afford Subftances called 5k/- 1 
fhursj reicmbling the bituminous ones above* 
mentioned*, and fometimes the fluidity of P^-3 

troleum. ' c 

ThegroflTcr, like Bitumen, are called Pitcbi 
thofcthat are a little more liquid, without ad- • 
hering to the fingers, and with a gentle heat 
mdt into a foft traftable mafs, are called 
Rofuts » and thofc that are perfcftly fluid, as 
qietm Petrrr^ Oils. 

Thcfe are found in different Species and 
different parts of V^ctables i thus Rofins lodge 
principal Iv in the Bark of Trees, and in the 
Strms and Leaves of Plants; but Oils in the 
liner Leaves and Seeds. 

There is this difference between them, that 
Rr^Jim nearly approach to mineral Biaimen i 
but Oils are ur removed from it : though they 
arc both no more than a part of the terreftrial 
liituuKnSi now mrified and attenuated into a 
Vegetable Subtility, intimately combined with 
a copious watry Subftance, and as a Recepta- 
cle containing the Ipccific conftitution of the 
riant. 

,;> /v^/;v,s iharforo, as being the produce of 9; 
yet uivaltrrM rcnvrt ml Uitunicns, the farther ihcy • 
ANmo into anvi ait ijvnt uiv>n the finer branches 
th^ IcAX'c^ tl>c Aowcrs but j\inicularly the Seeds 
v^ Vc§oublc$^ ^ thrte being the moft jurricularly 

fpedfic 



36 Vegetable Sulphurs. Part II. 

ipecific part of every vegetable) ftill the more 

are they found to be altered. 

Tnis alteration particularly depends upon the 
reparation of their more grofs terreftrial part^ 
and tiieir more intimate combination with an 
aqueous Subllance. 

Rcfim therefore being fubmitted to a che- 
mical Refolution \ they readily, by tlie bare 
application of the Fire, let go that part which 
was moft fpecifieated in the Vegetable, under 
the form of Oil : then the Fire being a little 
increafed, a certain acetous Subftance comes 
over, in fume, that may commodioufly be 
condenfed and received by a veflcl containing 
pure Water for that purpofe. Upon increafing 
the Fire again, there follows a more crofs, 
pitchy, and but half-fluid fubftance •, a black 
matter, like a Coal, remaining at the bottom 
of the Retort •, and which being thoroughly 
burnt in the open Air, falls into a fine white 
Earth. 

^^^^ S^' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ greatly promotes all kinds of 
i. Digellion, fo in the hotter Climates thefe Rofins 
are more copiously fpecifieated •, whence a large 
proportion of a thin 0/7, determined by its fpc- 
cific tafte and odour, is found in the aromatic 
Plants and Fruits of the Indies : tho* upon this ac- 
count all the Plants of the Indies are not equally 
refinous, no more than Mint, Baulm, and Ca- 
momile are with us. And indeed our Anife, 
Fennel, Cumin, tfr. may contain as much Oil as 
the moft aromatic Plants of the E^ft ; though 
there are a thoufand other Species of Plants, 
. Trees and Seeds that naturally abound with verv 
little, as the Cuaimber, Brook-lime,^^. the Wil- 
low, the Birch, (^c. 






i2. Vegetable Sulphurs. 

37, The Method of diftilling Oi7x, cfpeciallyj 
the Aromatic ones, deferves to be confider'd./J 
In order to it, the Plant, whether Mint, Sage,> 
Marjoram, 6fr. being taken frefh and cut fmall, ^i 
a quantity of Water fufficient to cover it, is^ 
poured thereto •, and the Plant thus fuffer*d to 
macerate from two or three to fourteen days \ 

a handful or two of common Salt being thrown 
in, according to the quantity of the matter. 
The Salt is here added for two reafons ; 
viz* (i.) to prevent the adion of combinatory 
Fermentation, during the time of Digeftion ; 
which is thus very well guarded againft by 
common Salt, or Alum, ^s we fee in the ex- 
ample of faked meats, fcfr. and, (2.) that the 
Sale may imbibe the very fubtile earthy mat* 
ter, which, by intimately cortibiping with Wa- 
ter, conftitutes the Mucilage peculiar to Ve- 
getables ; and alfo intimately and fubtily ad- 
heres to Oils or Rofins : whence the oily parts 
might eafily fly off; 

When the Herbs have thus been macerated, 
they are to be diftillM, together with the Wa- 
ter, in an Alembic, with a ftrong boiling heat i 
a large quantity of frefh Water having firft 
been added to prevent any empyreuma. 

38. The like Method is alfo followed in the 
diftillation of Oils from dried Plants and Seeds ; 
which have this convenience, that they are left 
fubjedt to the danger of fermenting in the Ma- 
ceration ; but this inconvenience too, that their 
fubtile or exceedingly penetrating and mod fra- 
grant part is exhaled in the drying. 

Some endeavour to prevent this avolation 
by putting the frefh herbs entire, into a very 
large and wide Cucurbit, carefully luted to an 
?iJembic-hcad i and diftilling wUU cl\e gentle 



8 Fegetahk Sulphurs. Partll 

heat of a Balneum Maria j till the Plant be^ 
comes dry and friable in the veffel. But the 
fame difficulty occurs here alfo ; for the very 
fmall quantity which is driven over from the 
whole body of the Plant, or rather only 
in the furface thereof, is catch'd indeed but 
not received ; ilince a great part muft every 
where neceflarily adhere to the fides of fuch 
large and capacious veflels, unlefsitbe very 
carefully, and by a toilfome operation, gra- 
dually coUefted. 

The dried Subftances of Herbs or Seeds are 
either fct to macerate in the fame manner as 
above-mentioned i or elfe without any fuch 
preparation, they are, with the addition of a 
large quantity of Water, immediately com- 
mitted to Diftillation ; But the firft Method 
is the beil ; provided the addition of the Salt 
be not, for the forefaid reafons, negleded. 

59, It muft be farther obferv*d, that there 
are certain very odoriferous vegetable Subftances 
which aftbrd no confiderable quantity of Oil 5 
yet being diftill'd with duly prepared Spirit of 
Wine, render it highly odorous. And thefe ve* 
getables have commonly this peculiarity along 
with them, that they will by no means bear to be 
cut or bruifed, without immediately lofing their 
former grateful, and gaining a difagreeable fcent ; 
a familiar example whereof we have in Ljlies of 
t!ie Valley, 

The Spirit of Wine intended for diftillation 
herewith, or with any of the Aromatics, muft 
be that drawn over from Alkalies ; whereby 
it is attenuated, and freed of its difagrec 
pidorous tafte and fcent ; as alfo of its ci 
reuma, if it had any : and thn** ^ '"^ 
odorous of itfelf, it the let 
titious odour of the vegeiaV 



§.2. Vegetable Sulphur. 

a volatile Salt, and laftly a thick oily, or pitchy 
Subftance. 

But the greateft part of Benjainih fublimes 
in the form of Flowers j after which comes off 
alfo a thick or butyraccous kind of nutter. 

44. AWthtk Vegetable Sulphurs^ may, as well J 
as the mineral, be imbibed and extradted by Al- li 
kalies, and Spirit of Wine. ^ 

But Alkalies of themfelves are notfufficicnt* 
for the fcparatory Extradtion, whereby the 
Rofins are feparated from their groffer muci^ 
lage *, becaufe the moifture which detains them 
in the lixivium* dilTolves this mucilage at the 
fame time. 'Tis therefore better effcfted 
by highly reftified Spirit of Wine. But the 
bcft way of freeing them from their groflefi: 
terreftrial faeces, is firft to cxtradt them by 
means of fix'd Alkali ; and afterwards to fepa* 
rate them from their mucilaginous part by 
Spirit of Wine. . 

Thus, let a quantity of powder'd Jalap be 
boiled in a proper proportion of the Lixivium 
of Salt of Tartar ; filtre the Decoftion, and 
evaporate it to drynefs •, pulverize the remain^ 
ing mafsi pour highly redified Spirit of Wine 
thereon, and digell for a day in a warm place. 
Then filtre the Tinfture, and draw off the 
Spirit till only a half, or a third part re- 
mains behind •, to this remainder pour twice its 
quantity of cold Water, and the Roftn will be 
precipitated in the form of a milky Pow- 
der, which eafily melts into a mafs. Or if the 
fame remamder oe, in an open veffel, evapo- 
rated with a gentle heat, to drive off the Spi- 
rit of Wine, a pitchy, tranfparent, foft, flexi* 
ble Subftance wUl be left behind. 



Vegeiahle Sulphur $. Part II. 

The fame thing may be done in Myrrh, 
and all the Plants whofe fpecific medicinal 
virtue is lodged in their refinous part j as it 
is in Roman Wormwood, the leffer Centory, 
Gentian-root, fcfr/ 

But if the vegetable Subftance be very re. 
finous, as Guaiacum, Jalap, i^c. it may fuf- 
ficedireftly to pour nothing but Spirit of Wine 
upon the Powder^ provided the Spirit be very 
• highly reftified ; and fo digeft, filtre and ex- 
hale as before. When a- little of the Spirit 
of Wine is left, fufficient to keep the Rofin 
fluid by mixing with it, in this ftate *tis ufually 
called Dy the name of Effence. But if the Spi- 
rit be totally exhaled, there will be left 
behind, a red, yellow, or frequently a green 
Subftance, called by the name of Ex trail. 

In this Preparation there occurs a very con- 
fiderable phaenomenpn, with regard to the 
praftice of Phyfic ; viz. that thefe Rofm, 
whilft in the form of an Effence^ that is, wbilft 
they are very fubtily diflufed thro* the body 
of Spirit of Wine, have commonly ten times 
the effeft they wou'd have in their own te- 
nacious natural form, or that of an Exlra^^ 
Thus a dram of Myrrh, for inftance, taken 
in fubftance, has but a moderate effeft in pro- 
moting the Menfes •, but if an ounce of Spirit 
of Wine be digefted upon it, and decanted 
clear, without expreflion, (by which means 
there will be about fix drams of it) half a 
dram, or two Scruples of this Tindure, will 
have as great an effedt, as the whole dram ol 
crude Myrrh. 

And the fame is to be underftood of Jalap- 
root, which operates at leaft four times 
powerfully in the form of an EJjfench ^ 
docs in mere powder i ^ud Sxa ot or' ' 



§•2. Vegetable Sulphurs. 193 

more than in the confiftence of a Rofin^ o# 
Magtjier'j^ as 'tis called. For, if a dram of the 
EJpnce of Jalap, which operates as much as 
fix or eight grains of the Rojin^ be precipi- 
tated with Water •, the Rofin it contained will 
fcarce be found to exceed the weight of a fin- 
gle grain. 

45. And this Method of extrafting Roftni holds 
good for all the parts of Vegetables, if the fofc- 
going rule be obferved •, viz. that fuch as abound 
copioufly therewith, and efpecially if they are 
dry, be extrafted with Spirit of Wine alone ; 
but if mucilaginous, by means of fix'd alkali 
alio. 

SULPHURS FROM rHE PLANt 
WOLF'S-CLAW, AND VEGETABLE 
COALS. ^ 

46. The more curious among the* ChemiftsT^fc^sui- 
haveobferved another Species of Sulphur in thePJj.^JJ^^ 
vegetable Kingdom, that rather refembles the ^'«/Lyco. 
common mineral fort than Bitumens : and this **^*''~*^' 
is fometimes procured or collcdled by natural, 

and fometimes , by artificial means. A certain 
Duft or Powder, between a green and a yellow 
colour, is naturally found in young Pine-apples, 
the young Buds of the Nut-tree, but particular- 
ly in the Mu/cus cl^vatits^ T.ycopociiunh or Wolf's- 
Claw; whence it may be beat out by gentle 
ihaking. This Powder in its ready inflamma- 
bility and deflagration, refembles common 5://- 
phur i though it be nothing elfe but a very fine 
cortical Subftance, or Daft, which is ufually 
lodged upon the firft rudiments of the leaves 
of Phnis. 

O ^^^ 



Vegetable Sulphurs. Part II. 

But that Subftance approaches nearer to 
^'- . common Sulphur^ which is prepared from 
Coah^ in the following manner. A quantity 
of vegetable Coals, being reduced to powder, 
and boiled in a ftrong Lixivium of Salt of 
Tartar or Pot-a(h •, the Decoftioh is precipi- 
tated with common diftill*d Vinegar ; or a 
parcel offix'd alkali being fufed in a ftrong 
Fire, powder'd Coals are thrown into it fuc- 
ceflively : the matter is afterwards poured out, 
diflblved in the Water, and the Solution fil. 
tred and precipitated. But the Succefs be- 
comes more apparent, if the precipitation be 
made, as it were fpontancoufly, in the man- 
ner above obferv'd of the Sulphur of Ami- 
7nony *. 

No one however can here fuppofe, that this 
Sulphur was formally contained in the Vegeta- 
ble \ fmce it appears to be the produftion of 
Art. The origin of the whole effeft refts here, 
that by a clofe calcination, the lefs fpecificated 
part of the Rofin of the Vegetable, fuch as it 
was, either formally or materially, attrafted 
out of the Earth, is, as it were, melted or funk 
into the copious terreftrial particles of the 
Wood ; whence it cannot rife after the more 
fpecificated parts are driven off. 

Something of this kind happens in the pre- 
paration of the Crocus Martisy or CrocusVene' 
ris ; where volatile Sulphur being added to the 
Metal, as to a fix*d terreftrial body; a con- 
fiderable part of the Sulphur is immediately 
melted into the particles ot the Metal, whereto 
it alfo adheres fo tenacioufly, that the moft 
violent fire can fcarce, and then indeed not 
totally, feparate them again ; but it is rather 

foum 
~^-^^^^^ 

♦ Sec f . aS. pf this Seftioiiij 



§^2. Aritmal Sulphurs. 

found to have left its fpecific terreftrial part 
behind in the metali and only to have lec go 
its acid. 

After the fame manner the moft volatile 
parts of a vegetable RoftnvLVt prelencly driven 
away by an intenfe Fire i^ whilft the groller 
beings as it were, let into the copious terre- 
ftrialparts, arc thus more fix'd : whence there 
arifes this remarkable phenomenon, that a 
Coal form'd after this manner by the violent 
aftion of the Fire, in a half-clofed veflel, with- 
out much communication with the Air, tho* 
it be for a long time kept continually ignited, 
yet neither lofes its blacknels, nor any longer 
fends out the leaft reftnous or fulphureous mat** 
ter ; but rather falls away into a true earthy 
fubftance, that becomes lels and lels capable 
of burning -, its finer part being now tenaci- 
^ oufly intermixed with the grofien 

47. And here we cannot but again obferve, 
and recommend to farther trial, the Experiment 
produced by Becber^ when he declares, that by 
an artificial Operation he has drawn a kind of' 
fpirituous Subflrancc ftom Cails, that was neither 
fapidnor inflammable •, yet, being mix'd with a 
due proportion of diftill'd Vinegar, afibrded a 
pcrfeft intlammable Spirit, This Experiment, 
if it be not contingent, wou'd fliew even to the 
eye, the combination of a filine and fubtile earthy 
Subftancc, whereby Sul/bur^ or Inflammability^ 
is formally produced *• 

ANIMAL SULPHURS, OR FATS. 

4S. The groflcr vegetable Oils having the 

empyrcunutical or burnt odour in comiiK>n with 

O 2 tlie 



•&t f ^, ^^ this Sedioti* 



6 Animal Sulphurs. Part I|, 

the diftilPd Animal Oils I and the Correftion 
of it being the fame in both, 'tis proper that we 
confidcr the Oils of Animals^ before we come to 
Ihew how this empyreuma is to be got off. 
lai 49. The Sulphurs or Oils of Animals are of 

^**"* two forts; the one commonly known by the 
name of natural Fats 5 the other farther pre- 
pared or feparated by Art. 
jtpa- The natural Fats only require to be fepa- 

r/m'^ rated from their adherent membraneous and 
mufcular parts ; which is bed perfcrm'd with 
a moderate naked heat. Thus any flit mem- 
branous parts, as the Panmculus adipofus^ the 
Omentum of Vipers, the Fat of the Ovaries and 
Inteftincs of Hens, the Kidney-fat of Beafts, 
i^c. being chopped fmall, and melted with a 
foft naked heat, or for greater nicety put 
into a glafs veflTel, and fet in Balneo Mark^ 
the finer, clearer and more pure fubftance, 
will be tlius liquified, and may be feparated 
from the fkins, £s?r. And the fame is to be 
underftood of Marrows, as that of Deer, isle. 
as alfo the fat of Caftor, i^c. But it feems 
very proper, that thcfc fit parts of Animals 
Ihou'd firft be wafhM in clear Water, o^ 
Wine, and again dried, in order to free them 
from blood or other foulncfs, 

n^owhy 50. But in order more perfeftly, and more 
illation, curioufly to prefcrve fuch animal Fats or Mar- 
rows as are fuppofed to have particular virtues; 
they ought firlt to be walliM, if tliere is occa- 
fion, then put into a glafs, and entirely c6yer'd 
over with the molt highly rectified Spirit of 
Wine •, whereby they will be preferv'd perfe" 
• for a very long time. 

51. Thele/^^/j are firthcr prepared b] 
or by diflilling them vwo v\ ipttft:CU^ oU^ 



5.2. Animal Sulphurs. 

ftance •, which is ufually performed by throwing 
into them fr;^ments of Bucks, or calcined Bones, 
firft brought to the ftate of ignition, that they 
may thus be faturated therewith j then having 
put the faturated fragnients into a Retort, and 
diftilling them with fucceflive degrees of Fire, 
they firft afford a thin oily matter, that is more 
or Icfs empyreumatic ; and this is followed by a 
groffer aduft Oil. 

52, This black, aduft Oil is likewife obtain- j* 
able from all the other parts of Animals, if thefjS 
Fire be inci-eafed fo as to make die diftilling vef- '*• 
fcl red-hot ; and tlius we find it commonly pro-"^' 
cured from the human Skull, human Blood, in- 
fpillated Urine, Ivory, Hartfhorn, Vipers, Earth- 
worms, fcfi*, but 'tis always attended with a diP 
agreeable odour, as well as the like O'ds procu- 
rer! ill the fame nvumcr from Vegetables. To 
corred this naufcous fcent, the following Opera- 
tions arc to be oblcrv'd. 

(1.) Let fuch fetid Oils be well agitated 
with common Water ; which \^ ill thus become 
milky i and then ilillil the nuner, fo fliook 
tf^cthcr, with a futHcient heat ik Ba-neo Ala- 
r;v, or with a mo^lerace one in Sand -, and 
1 V peat t!)c Operaiioii n^.ore than once : whence 
tV^c 0:1 will be mado not oiily thinner, but 
n;uch Uf$ fcikl, 

V*.' Or mix ihcfc on^rxT^un-sraicol 0:U wh 
an eouAl qaamir\\ v^r nvTC, ct^ S; irir of NViik: \ 
Vxxi gcriiK ^::-ii i: oxrr ixo \V«r;^^r. placed tor 
• txi ix::^\Mo in tSc RvWxw ; ^y wrjcb means 
i thi.\ vhir<\ tT,;n.pro,-^: O. . o: :; mjch nxxc 
tolciubb vVvX.Tv V ;.; vw.v to rice: oa the 

s o \^"^v rvA vVHoi-wij'c be jv^;:^i upon 



Animal Sulphurs. Part II. 

from them, by diftillation, into Water, And 
'by the like Method volatile Salts are freed 
from the allbciation of thefe 0//i, that foul 
them ; only Quick- lime is not to be ufed in 
rfic Operation. 

But the beft and moft commodious way 
of purifying thefe aduft Oils^ at one operation^ 
is by drawing them over with Spirit of Wine, 

53. We muft not here entirely omit, that 
mL common Opinion of the modern vulgar Che- 
mifts, which wou'd have the empyreumatic Oi/j, 
both of Vegetabks and Animals, to contain an 
cflential Acidity, which, by the difpofition of 
its nature, firmly adheres to a large part of their 
volatile fubftance. This they fuppofe manifeft 
from hence, that thefe Oils being mix*d along 
with fix'd Alkalies, earthy, or any other Con* 
. cretes abforbent of Acid, do by aiftillation af- 
ford a confiderable quantity of fuch volatile, uri- 
nous Salt. But havingal ready * fet afide that 
opinion, we have only here farther to add, that 
the combinatory edudion of the Salts above 
pretended, is a real produ6tion, as appears from 
the very Experiment itfelf ; fincc Salt of Tartar 
by being digefted with the like Oils, and diftill'd, 
iloes at length become totally volatile : which 
at once puts an end to the difpute. 
' ^ "^ S ECT, 



f Sec Part II. §.1, ^.68. 



^$^^> 



i-3- 



Humid Waters. 199 



SECT. IIL 

W A T E R St 

I. /^Ommon Water feems to be a pure, and, "^^^ff 
li as it were, elementary Body, of fuch wluert! 
^■^^ a general nature as not to admit of a 
irariety of different Species ; yet we learn from 
experience, that, fimply confiaer*d, it has at leaft 
different degrees of tenuity : whence we find it 
generally faid of all diftillM Water, that it is 
hotter than fuch as flows direftly from the Spring; 
IS being more attenuated, and confequently more 
intenfely agitated in its fmall particles. But par- 
ticularly that fluid, .mineral Subftance, called 
Quick-lilver or Hydrargyumy as being a kind of 
Uver Water ^ has this remarkable difference, 
that whereas ^^/^r, properly fo called, \%humid^ 
this remains dry 

HU M f D yf AT ERS. 

2, 'Tis a controverted Point in what refpcft f^etiif 
IVater differs from Earth -, whether it may be^J^fii! 
converted into Earth, and Earth back again in- 
to Waier. The Peripatetics^ and the Followers 
(^( Paracelfusy take the negative •, and Helmont 
and Becber the affirmative ; the latter conceiving 
^ater to be nothing but a fluid Earth. 

The nature of Fluidity feems to afford the 

bcft decifion of this Controverfy. For, as 

Fluidity confifts in a very intenfe aftual mo- 

^on Qt all the fmalleft pam o( ^tv J^%%t^- 

O 4 %^^^\ 



Humid Wnun. Part II, 

gate \ and as motion neceflfarily fuppofes a 
moveable Body ; and mobility a certain dif- 
pof^tion of magnitude and figure ; it naturally 
follows, if the corpufcles are of a very move- 
able figure, and receive an alteration both in 
that and their figure, there muft from thefe 
alterawions arife a different ftate of the Aggre- 
gate. 

But that the coriftituent particles of WaUr 
do not become fubjeft to the motion of fluidity 
on account of |:heir figure, but rather on ac- 
count of their flender bulk alone, appears very 
probable from Ice •, v/herein the conftituent 
particles oH Water ^ upon the ceffation of the 
intenfe conflift of the impelling Air, thatis^ 
ypon the Air's growing cold, fhew their figure 
to be very combinable, by thus coining into 
a body, which, to all the ftnfes, is firm and 
folid, and hath the true appearance of Earth. 

3* And if it be allow'd pofTible for Art fu- 
perficially to combine thele aqueous particles, 
which, as was juft now obfcrv*d, are difpofed 
thereto \ and join them to the earthy particles, 
^^hich are every where to be met withal, that is, 
to particles larger in bulk than themfelves •, and 
this fo as to make the conjundion firm \ there 
cciu be no doubt but they will thus durably re- 
pain the earthy form under which they appear. 

4, This alfo feems probable, <?»v contrario • 
fince volatile earthy particles, which of them- 
felves, and in their own homogeneal numerous 
aggregation, compofe fix*d Subllances, may be 
rendered volatile by being mix'd with an over- 
proportion of Water ; according to what \yc for- 
merly pbferv'd of the volatile Spirit of Vitriol *. 



^ Sec Pvrt l. §. I, ^.lo, ii>(^c% 



y. Humid Waters. 201 

*Tis manifeft therefore, that an earthy 
fixedncfs may be given to the parts of Wa- 
Uu by thus bringing them inro an aftual 
fix'd aggregative accretion. For 'tis very re- 
markable, that all the more fix'd bodies, as 
Aggregates, are of fuch a nature, that all their 
fnialleft particles when loofen'd from their fpe- 
cific a^regative cohefion, have in every refpeft 
the properties afcribed to volatility. But vola- 
tile Concretes are eafily reduced into a ftate of 
aqueous fluidity by a fmall attrition and altera- 
tion of figure; as appears from the volatilization 
of Gold, which may be thus fo fubtily join'd 
to liquid bodies, as to prove of very difficult 
feparation from them again, in a folid form. 

5. Great regard is to be had to the difference J^^^^ff' 
, oi Waters^ fo frequently happening from thcfe-y^^c?**^* 

earthy parts they contain. Thus Sfring-PFnier^^^if'^y^h 
by bare boiling exhibits a large quantity ot Earth-, ^tblyloMuh. 
and diat o^ Rauiy Snow^mA jD,^*:er, by digeftion 
and putrefaftion not only manifeft this tcrre- 
ftrial, but alio an oily Subftance ; at one time 
affording an inflammable Spirit ; and at anoriier, 
yielding a very difagreeable, fetid odour, or that 
of corruption. No lei's remarkable is the Spirit 
of Spring' fTaier 9 taken up near the Spring-head, 
and that of new fall'n Rairiy but efnecially ofDezv^ 
which is collefted in the manner propofed by 
BecbeKy for procuring the Spirit of Mud or 
Loam i viz. by very flow diftillation ; care- 
fully, obferving to keep apart the Spirit which 
firft comes over, after the vefTel is become vio- 
lendy hot, 

6. The fTaters that are manifeftly compound- ^JJ^^gJ;* 
cd, fuch as thofe mineral ones called yJcidulf mm ha 
^^Tberm(Ey deferve a particular confideration r^XySS! 
f^ough partly from a want of curioficy ^ and part- 



!02 Humid Waters. Partll || 

ly from a defeft of chemical Experiments^ that 
is hitherto but little fatisfa£toriIy known about 
them : For what Becher has upon this Subjefb, in 
his Pbyfica Subterranean is only fomc general and 
abftrufe Dodrine relating thereto. 

As thefe Waters are commonly found fc- 
parate, they may be commodioufly examined, 
for ufc, by the known ways, of infpiflation, 
the addition of various bodies that di(K)lve 
therein, the changes they produce in the co- 
lours of Tinftures, i^c. Thus vitriolic Waters, 
for inftancc, give a ftrong bhckncfs to a Decoc- 
tion of Galls i but the fimple Mineral Waten 
rather caufe remarkable alterations in the co- 
lour of tlie Tindlures of Rofes, Violets, but 
particularly that Pigment called Litmafe'^, 
and diffolve Iron ; whence they acquire a very 
fweet tafte. But if it be fufpcfted they have 
diflblved Copper \ this may readily be deter- 
mined by the addition of Spirit of urine. 

*Tis however very certain, that all kinds of 
Salts, Metals, Earths, i^c. greatly differing 
not only from one another, but alio from their 
own common Species, do fometimes materially 
enter the compofition of thefe Waters \ whence 
they will not anfwer the Proofs that fuccecd 
in the common Species of fuch bodies, and 
thus difappoint our knowledge. The Proofs 
of thefe Waters may be feen in Becher*s Pby 
fica Subterranean Simpfon^s Defcription of the 
Sp^'W'WaterSi Zwelfer*s merry Apolog) againft 
Scbmuziusn and Mr. Bo)le^s little HiJtoryofMi' 
\ neral Waters, 

WMpftho' 7, What we juft now faid receives a farther 
^bfJJftran/c confirmation from the infipid Menfiruumsor /f^<^- 



* Sec ByU Abridgra. Vol.U. Y^^'^'i^^V 



I 



;y. Humid Heaters. 203 

I ^^^ we often meet with, that neverthclefs diflblve 
i ] not only metals, but even the fbftcr Gems, ifluf^ 
Ij] ficiently prepared beforehand, by commmution 
p and calcination. And as they have this remarka- 
^ blefalineandcorrofiveefFeft, tho* they manifeft 
H noc the lead Saltnefs to the tafte •, we recom- 
; mend to farther Experiments the Examination 
of thofe relati(Mis of Becker^ as to the two 
remarkable changes, one of a certain com- 
pound, and the other of common fimple Water % 
where he declares that an infipid IVater^ along 
with other effefts, had that of being inftan- 
taneoufly poifonous -, and that pure common fVa- 
ter by often repeated diftillations may be brought 
to a furprizing degree of corrofivenefs, 
I \ 8, Tho' a large part of Oils comes under the ^^^^^ q^ 
\ form of IFater * -, yet their reduction into Heater ^ ap^Mr in 
is not to be underftood fo much of their whole bo- ^^P" 
dy and its * tranfmutation, as of a feparatory *^' 
difunion made thereof. 

This is effefted at the fame time that their 
other part is converted into an earthy dry Sub- 
ftance, that is either fix'd or volatile, accor- 
ding to the tenuity of the fixing matter inftru- 
mcntally emplov'd. Thus for example, if the 
Oleum Terra^ Oil of Turpentine, or the ex- 
prefs'd Oils of Olive, or Linfeed, be long 
di^eftcd with Bole, or Quick-lime mix*d 
with fix'd Alkali, and efpecially if afterwards 
diftiird, they afford a much lefs quantity of 
Oil •, but at the fame time a proportionable 
part of infipid Heater, And if the remaining 
Oil be again treated, with new additions, in 
the fame manner, it will at length totally let 
%^hWatern 

Q. That 



-^*^/!«Tf f'v^.33. Sv'^yV Vm\LAvVv 



204 Humid Waters. Part II, 

^iThetbet di^ 9' ^^^^ Qiieftion fo much controverted among 
Jivr^slml'the praftical Phyficians has fome relation to our 
-rtJJiVil" prefcnt Subjcd i viz. whether thtdiftill'djf'atcri 
vit'tuct of of Plants do retain the medicinal virtues thereof? 
ir Simples. Ij^ Order to decidc this Queftion, wemuftconfi, 
der the difference between thofe parts of Vcgeu- 
bles wherein their fjiecific alterative virtue is con- 
tained. If this part be a thin or fluid Rofin, fo that 
thedlftillM^^/^rmay from thence receive fomc 
taftc of the Concrete ; which is the cafe of Mint, 
Bauhii,Sage, Veronica^ &c. the Wntcrs of fuchSim- 
pics may have a good and proper efFeft in fuch Per- 
Ion as are greatly difordcrM ; particularly, if 
they at the fame time labour under a burning Fe- 
ver i becaufe as the aftive oily part of the Con- 
crete is here very fubtily difperfed thro* the bodies 
of fuch IVatcrs^ they have not only a general 
virtue, but alfo upon account of their fpecific 
tafte, a particular one ; whence they come to o- 
pcrate with more advantage, as we formerly ob- 
ierv'd of EJences *, and produce confidcrablc al- 
terations in languid Perfons ; who might other- 
wife be too greatly agitated or difturb'd by the 
feparate ufe ofpurearomatic'Oils. 
That is an idle Trick of tlic Apothecaries who 
"^do not diftil thefe fVaters^ after the genuine man- 
jier, in Balnep Marice^ without the addition of 
common JVatcr •, but pouring a large quantity 
thereof to the Simple, draw them off with a boil- 
ing heat fcr Veftcam : for the fine oily part of the 
ballamic Concretes, as being very fubtile, has a 
much ftronger cohefion with the PFaier that is 
naturally contained in recent Plants. 

Bjt if the ilipid Waters which come over co- 
pioiifly in the diftlllation of tlie cflential Vegeta- 
ble Oils, where a large addition of common Wa- 
ter 



*SccVmll. ^.2. ^.4+. 



^0. Humid Waters. 205 

ler is required, are defign'd for keeping •, they 
ought firll to be flowly re<5lified \n Balneo Maria \ 
by which means all that is valuable in them will 
be feparated from their large quantity of fuper- 
fluous Water. 

10. But thofe Waters that are diftill'd, with a 
gentle heat, from infipidSubjefts ; or from fuch 
asarefapid, tho' witliout partaking of that fpe- 
cific tafte abovemention'd, can fcarce be pre- 
fcr'd to common phlegm, for any medicinal pur- 
pofe : and the fame is to be underftood of fuch 
Subjcfts, whofe fpecific virtue does not refide in 
their Rofin; or where the Rofin is fp^ tenacious, 
as not to yield to diftillation. Thus the acid Spi - 
ricof Guaiacum Wood is far from having any of 
the antivcnereal virtue of the Rofin of Guaiacurn ; 
and the diftiird Waters of recent Roman Worm- 
wood, the lefler Gcntory, Scorzonera, fcfr. are 
perfeftly infignificant: and in their (lead, the 
Decoftions or Extracts of thofe Subjedls, diluted 
with a proper vehicle, are given to much greater 
advantage. 

Biit as to the hypnotic Waters of certain Species 
of Plants that have little tafte, particularly thofe 
called cold in the third or fourth degree ; as Night- 
Ihade, Poppy, fcfr. the IVaters here participa- 
ting of the taftt and fmcU of the Concrete, are ra- 
ther referable to thofe abovementionM * -, tho* 
the refrigerating IVaUrs diftill'd from Lerticc, 
Endive, i£c, require an experience, ifit could be- 
had, more fuccclbful than tl.e common, to re- 
commend them. But the cafe is very different 
when the IVaien are prepared by Fermentation ; 
whether they thus become inflammable or not. 

HRY 



*' Sec f.p, of this Scdtion. 



2o6 Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. Partll 

Z)/er WATERS, OR MERCURIES 

Mercory •/ 1 1 • Thc Natufc of ^ick-ftlver^ a mineral JVa 

VSaiS^j. *^^ ^^^^ ^ ^'^^ humid, appearing very abftrufc 

A has occafion'd many Difcourfes upon tne Sutgcd 

though all of them rather hillorical than truK 

fcientifical ; by reafon of the extreme Homo 

geneity of its individual particles : whence having 

eludea the common Inftruments of chemical Ana 

lyfis, it deferves a place among the Elemen 

tary Bodies, better than almoft any of thofc ad 

^ vanc*d by the Peripatetics. At prefent, however 

we have nopes of difcovermg fomething more fo 

lid, as to the nature and conftitution of this ftrang( 

Water. 

f^rf^eJ '^* *^^^ cither found under an adtual runninj 

frJ^^itiOn form in the Mines, and thence called Viigii 

•rcieke. Mercury ; or elfe 'tis forced out from mincra 

bodies by means of diftillation. 

The grcateft part of thefe mineral bodie 
are of the nature of Cinnabar-, tho* mix'dalonj 
with a deal of grofs earthy matter : but other 
again are merely ftony. 

With thc former 'tis ufual to nibcfuch Sub 
ftancesas will imbibe Sulphur, viz. Quick-lime 
Filings or Scales of Iron, and for curiofity fake 
Salt of Tartar \ and throw the Mixture intc 
a capacious Iron-Cucurbit •, the mouth where 
of is cover'd with an Iron-plate ftruck full o 
little holes •, and thus inverted into thc moutl 
of another ftrong one, made either of Eartb< 
or Iron, that is above half full of commor 
Water, and lies buried in the ground. Ther 
the Fire being gradually applied, the Sulphui 
that hitherto tied up the Mercury, and therC' 
with formM a concrete like that of Cinnabar, 
fxnks into the Lime or Iron-fttoej^^ •j.w^^^^ 



J. Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. 207 

fakes the Quick-filvcr •, which therefore by the 
fire afting above, is now forced down thro* 
the reft of the mafs, and coUefted in the JVa^ 
ter below. 

But the ftony Mineral is firft reduced to 
powder by the Mill, then walhM and feparated 
from its wperfluous earthy Slud; and laftly, 
with a more fparing addition of Lime, diftilPd 
in the fame manner as that juft mentioned. 

This diftillation of the Mercury may like- 
wife be performed with an oblique fituation of 
the veffeis, or even in a Retort ; but in large 
quantities the perpendicular defcent is the moft 
facile and commodious. 

13, There is no difficulty to determine the/r**#ftrnr 
igin of the matter thus produced, if we con-^2Iw^jjJ|^ 
ler how readily it penetrates Metals, and of e^"^'^^ 
hat colour and gravity it is •, for all thefe agree deu'rllllhg.^ 

prove it of a metallic nature : tho' this only 
the general. 

The common Philofophy has endeavoured 
to explain its particular nature, by attribu- 
ting to it a peculiar eflential, but namelefs 
forno, and hiflorically affigning its accidental 
properties, which it has in the aggregate, to 
fluidity, volatility, ponderofity, ^c. but as to 
its material Parts, we find not the leaft notice 
taken. Some chemical people wou'd have it a 
Metal,confifting of the fame Principles as other 
Metals do, but notarrivM to /;w///r//)'; a term 
that in this cafe is hardjv intelligible : others 
wou*d have it a certain ample metallic body, 
or, as it were, a certain Principle of Metals i 
and others again a certain decompounded mc» 
tallic Mineral. 

14. Becber (lands up for the latter Opinion ;* 
t fluftuates confiderably about it, as well in 

Q his 



)8 Dry J^atersy or Mercuries. VsiXiM 

his Pbyjica SKburranea^ 2i^ his other Writings. 
where he fometimes inculcates that Mercury h 
not obtainable from Metals by reparation ; but is 
made by compofition : and in other places, as 
particularly in his judgment "upon the Philofo. I 
phical Procefs in the via ficca^ which (lands, at 
the beginning of \i\% Concordantia Cbymica^ he 
declares that Gold confifts of common running 
Mercury, a red tinging, and a 'white, yitrefci- 
ble Earth, This indeed may be collefted from 
his own Suppolitions, that as long as fuch Mer- 
cury is found an Gold, or any other Metal, fo 
long the" metallic fulphur remains undeftroy*d, 
and the Metafitfelf numerically compleat in all 
its Principles j tho* differing in its proportion of 
gravity. And again, after the fame manner, in 
the fecond Supplement to his Subterraneal Phyftcsy 
where he is very earneft to prove that Mer- 
cury is made by decompofuionv he not only ap- 
parently, and in the words of Helmont^ pleads 
for the fcparation of the Arfcnical Sulphur, but 
alfo recommends the Sulphur, thus, remaining 
after the Mercury is extracted, for new medici- 
nal, and chemical purpofes. 

15, But that Opinion of his feems the more 
plaulible, which places Mercury in what he calls a 
fuper-decompounded ftatc -, as being nothing but 
a Metal joined to a large proportion of a liiline, 
earthy Subftance, that eafily aflimilates with Me* 
tals. 

For although it were a vain attempt to re- 
cover from the imperfect Metals all the Mer- 
cury that entered their compofition •, yet tha' 
part which cannot be detained in this opera 
tion, is heterogeneous to the metalline nature 
^ and confequently rather tends to debafe '* 
Thus when Luna cormia^ made with Sf 
Nitre^ acquires by Sublimation the app^ 



§*3* ^^y ^^*^^^^ ^^ Mercuries. 

of Arfenic; it wou'd be groundlefs to expcA 
a reduftion of the whole mafs into Silver, bc- 
caufe of the additional weight it receives from 
fome part of the Spirit. So like wife it is in 
vain to hope, that Cinnabar (hou'd be total- 
ly revived in the form of running Mercury, 
We recommend it, however, to the expe- 
rience of fuch as have the opportunity, to try . 
whether, as Becber after ILelmont fupi>ofes, tlie 
like kind of Eartlis gain'd from Metals, tho* 
they appear remote from the metalline nature, 
have this fpecifical to them, that if they be 
again added to the Mercury from whence they 
were feparated by artificial violence, or to the 
common running Quick-filver, tliey will coa- 
gulate and concrete therewith into a metal of 
the Himc Species. 

1 6. Thofe who have wrote the mod folidly* 
upon the Mercurification of Gold and Silver, una- j!l! 
nimoufly agree, that the whole quantity of the ^ 
Metal employed may thus be brought into aJT 
running form ; and this with an incrcafe rather '« 
than any diminution of the weight •, which, if 
allowM for true, makes it probable that Mer- 
cury may be nothing elfc but Metal, very much 
increafed or over-projx^rtionM in that part whidi 
gives foftnefs and malleability. 

17. Common Mercury indeed is by many found 
to be no way tranfmutable into a true metallic 
Subftance by fimple digcllion; yet this lathcr 
makes for than againll the afleriion, that Mer- 
cury may be a Metal ovcr-iiofed with the p>irt 
which gives foftnels and malleability *, fitKc lo 
long as this part abounds therein, it caimot Ivcx- 
pcftedthc Mercury fliouM cwraajuirc liic lo 
lidityof aMcDl 



O Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. Part II, 

On the other hand, there arc feveral com- 
mon Operations, wherein by the addition or 
introduftionof fome fuhtile, falinc, earthy fub. 
ftance, this over-proportion in the Principle 
of Fluidity, is, if not permanently, yetfome- 
what duraoly fo contemper'd, as with the other 
part to give the Mercury a very firm degree 
of metallinehardnefs ; as particularly in that 
coagulation of it, with the fumes of Lead, 
confirm'd by the teftimony of Mr. Bo*jU *. 

But thofe condenfations of common Mer- 
cury carry more evidence along with them, 
and ferve to better purpofes, that are made 
by direftly combining an earthy or true me- 
tallic fubuance therewith ; a fhort Method 
' whereof we have theoretically propofed by 
Becker^ in his Difcourfe upon the Via liqum 
fbilofopbica^ to this efFeft. *« Sulphur unites 
** with running Mercury, whereto if Vitriol be 
** added, a Metal is form'd of courfe.** By 
running Mercury is here meant a part of the 
metallic matter that aftually exceeds in any 
Metal in gravity and proportion : By Sulphur, 
that other body which, not only by its drynefs 
and interpofition, arrefts the fluidity of the 
Mercury, but as a Principle that pofitively mix- 
ing with, and aftually entring the compofi* 
tion of Metals, gives them a manifeft colour. 
What this author underftands by Vitriol, cf- 
pccially in metallurgy, he himfelf clearly and 
at large explains; being in fhort no more 
than the volatile Spirit of Vitriol \ or as it is 
concentrated in the Oil of Sulphur. Thus 
therefore the fuperfluous metalline, mollifying 
part, or the Mercury^ being changed fro^ 



^ EUhv on Fluidity and ¥ltuitvefe* t^ 
PV' »pi i^6, 331, jyy, andVoUW ^ 



f 3* DryTVaters^ or Mercuries. 

0ujd ftate by the drying and tinging matter, 
the Sulphur^ from the accretion whereof, it 
becomes alfo fulible in compoficion ; 'ds laftly 
rendered compleat by an eUentbl and fpecific 
coagulation and fixation, with the Spirit of 
VitrxoU In like manner he enumerates various 
remarkable treatments of Cinnabar with Oil 
of Vitriol, the fwect Solution, or that elfe- 
wherc called A<iua Saturni *• 

1 8. But as to the vulgar Triturations of^ 
Mercury, which have hitherto been pradifed «!II2 
by the common Chemifts, they bring upon it *«» 
various temporary alterations indeed, or difFcrcijit 
forms,' with the addition of various Suhftances, 
and fomctimes by the force of the Fire ; -yet it 
always remains eafily feparable from thefe ad- 
ditional matters, and again reftorable to its own 
natural appearance and efficacy, without altera- 
tion \ and this for a thoufand times fuccefllvely. 
The more common of thefe Operations are 
iliflorcnt ways of treating the Mercury with 
various Salts, as with Vitriol and common 
Salt, whence arifcs Mercury-Sublimate; Vi- 
triol and Nitre, whence alio a Sublimate, but 
iiirtcring both in api)earance and efFcft from 
the former ; or with Spirit of Nitre or Aiua 
fs'Tihs whence the Coralline Precipitate of 
Cro!lws\ with Oil of Sulphur, whence the ^ 
'rurMbum mineral \ or laltly, with Oil of Vi- 
triol, whence proUibly, by repeated aUftrac- 
tion, the antipo^lagric and diaphoretic Secret 
ot KHo/i\'. Of each of thefe in their order. 

iQ» To prcjwrc the common Ms^rcury'SubU-rif 
«^/f, they take two parts of ihcCafuf niortuum oV^^^ 
P 2 \'icrioUsuWi 



1 2 Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. Part II. 

Vitriol, one part of common Salt, and half a 
part of running Mercury, and grind them toge. 
ther in a glafs Mortar, till the globules of the 
Quick-filver can no longer be feen. This mafs 
they now put into a proper veffel of earth or 
glafs, which they place, up to the height of the 
containM matter, in a Tot of Sand, that at length 
will bear to .be made red-hot. The veffel now 
ftanding low in the Sand, is furnifh'd with an 
alembic-head, to receive and difcharge the phleg- 
matic and corrofive humidity of theSpirit of Salt, 
which rifes firft, and fo prevent it from falling 
. again down the fides ; whence it might come to 
break the veffel, if of glafs : in the mean time 
the Fire is gradually raifed till the Tot becomes 
of a duflcy red heat. And thus a faline, crv- 
flail ine and tranfparent matter concretes on the 
furface of the powdery mafs at firft put in, and 
adheres to the fides of the veffel The Fire is 
to be augmented for fome hours, according to 
the quantity of the matter at once employed, 
and afterwards being fuffer*d to go out, and all 
becoming gradually cold, the veffel is broken, 
and the contained matters feparated from each 
other. 

The manner of treating this mixM Subftance 
in large quantities at Venice^ with the fame 
Fire, or in the quantity of ajboiit nine hun- 
dred weight at one Sublimation, is deliverM 
us by Tachenius * \ where, by reafon of the 
great bulk of the matter required, they di- 
ih'ibute it into fixtecn different veffcls, and 
allow the firft day or two to the feparation of 
the humid exhalations ; .and keep the Fire gra- 
diMlly r.iifiiig to the fifth day, in order to 
finifl) the Sublimation, 



* ii/ppocrac. Ghymic. cap* 24. 



; • § J. Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. 

Wc arc here to obfervc, that the addition 
' ; of Nitre is of very little confequence in this 
Preparation \ becaufe the truly Tpecific or red 
' , Spirit thereof is foon made to rife by the hear, 
\ ' and leave nothing but its impure part, where- 
in it here refembles common Salt, behind. 

20. The foundation of the preceding Opera- « 
tion lies here. The common Salt being mbcM J^ 
. with the Ca^ut Mortumn of Vitriol, or Vitriol r/ii 
calcined to rednefs, the earthy Subftiince thereof 
wherewith it was coagulated, fo as to appear in 
a folid form, is by means of the coagitating 
licac, feparatcd from its acid part, and received 
into this calx of Vitriol, as into a latent Oil of 
Vitriol i whence the acid again becomes free, 
and rcairumcs its own corrofive nature, with the 
volatility .uiJ fluidity belonging lo Spirit of Salt \ 
whence of conkquencc it wou'd, upon raifrng the 
Fire, diiVil over in a liqi^id foriii. B-t as at the 
Tuv.? time that its cii^ir.al coagulating part is 
t;.\;:i tro;n it, there is :;r.>:l:cr prc.rnici, to 
^^".:vh :; nuy ih!l a^::;e:e, ::uv.^ : r,.^: :"o nm:ly 
-> :e ::> ow::, :• :. t'.e .:::e :o«*^;: *::" ihe Mer- 
V *. \ • 1* iTe'w.*».v 'x*«r'.> ..'% *r»r.,^« corTi^-^^ 

■ ^ ^ ^ • ,* * ' ^ , : ^. * "■ 

, , ■ ^* N *"*•* ■•*•*- 'N * X " .V--- '*Sj~ 

*■* *Vi.%x» ■* ^x*«-«-« .» -»^^ . «.^«« •. » *■»• w^w 
fc"- \N**^**> ••• - ---^— ♦ ^ 

C» . ', 



Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. Part II. 

But that nothing of Nitre, though it had 
been ufed in this Operation, remains in the 
Sublimate, is well proved by another Experi- 
ment of Tachenius * 5 for if inftead of the whole 
quantity of common Salt an equal weight of 
Witre were taken, and mix'd along with the 
Caput Mortuum of Vitriol, and the Subli- 
, madon carried on as above, a like mafs of 
I red Mercury wou*d thus alfo appear up. 
on the furface of the refl of the matter, or 
a rtd Mercury ' Sublimate be obtained; but 
weighing no more than the quantity of Mer- 
cury employed \ nor proving corrofive, accord- 
ing to Tacbenius^ at moft not fo corrofive as 
the Sublimate before mention^. 

It here del'erves to be obfervcd, that in or- 
der to corrode fo large a quantity of Mcrciir)^ 
for inftance two hundred and eighty pound- 
weight, there fhou'd be no more than about 
a fourth part of the faline, corrofive Spirit re- 
quired i for fo it appears from Tachenius^ who 
iays, that thefe two hundred and eighty pounds 
ot Quick-fiivcr are, after the operation, found 
to have gained eighty pounds from the Spirit 
of Salt adhering to it \ that is, two parts of 
coiiccntratcd Spirit of Salt fuffice thus to cor- 
rode feven parts of Mercury. 

reeu- 2 1. There is alfo another very curious Suhli- 

libu- ^''^'^^^^ of Mercury J of great ufe in Metallurgical 

for Cbemiftryy which requires the Quick-filver to be 

^j*^'&^' diffolved in a fufficient quantity of Aqua foriisy 

and a lixivium of common Salt poured to the 

clear Solution. This lixivium lhou*d contain 

as much common Salt as there was Mercury cm- 

ploy'd, and be made with once, or once and " 

ha 

,^ Hippocrat. Cbyw. cap, i^. 



■ ^V ^ry ^^*^^^ ^^ Mercuries. ' 

half its own quantity of warm Water, Upoa 
the admixture of the two, the Solution of the 
Mercury prefently grows milky, curdly, and in 
a little time lets talis a white Precipitate, Then 
all the liquor being decanted, and the fubfided 
fubftance edulcorated by a repeated afFufion d 
wami water, it is to be dried, and afterwards 
fublimed. The Quick-filver thus raifed is again 
to be diffolved in Aquafortis^ the Solution pre« 
cipicated with common Salt as before, and the 
Precipitate edulcorated, dried and fublimed a- 
freih ; and thus the courfe being repeated to the 
third time, there will at length a very fplendid 
Sublimate be obtained. Some inftead of the So- 
lution of common Salt, here ufe the Spirit of 
Salt for the precipitation, and fo receive a ftill 
brighter Sublimate. 

This has much greater effeAs than the com* 
mon MercuryStiblhnate^ particularly in bring* 
ing over golden TinAures by the Retort, if a 
Butter of Antimony be made therewith, and 
this be mtx'd with a Solution of Gold that has 
been well attenuated by Digeftion, and the 
mixture afterwards committed to diftillation. 

22. The red Prccipiiate of Mercury difF^rrs not« 
from the above-mentionM red Suii,:mate 5 the ^ 
Quick-filver bebg hcrcdiflblved in Jsuafortis^ 
and again feparatoi from all the humidity there- 
rf by the Retort \ when a fubftance will rsnuin 
at the bottom, of the lame nature and colour 
as the red Sublimate, and called by Cr/.::us die 
Arcavum Cmrallimm of Pjrx:elusS And if tliis 
rti Precifttjie of Mercury be urgsd mHth 1 Itrorgcr 
fitc, it likewiie riles into a ^'a^*':'/u:v; in nei- 
ther cafe exceeding the weight cf the Mercury 
cmployU 



5 Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. Part II. 

//*w 23. In the fame manner, if a proper quantity 
11^ of Oil of Vitrioli or Oleum Stilpburis per Campa- 
mm^ be poured upon ^kk-filver^ and again 
dravtfn from it by diftillation, fome time being 
firft allowM for their digeflion ; and this aftu- 
fion and abftradlion be fcveral times repeated, 
the whole humidity being at laft drawn off; 
and the remainder for fome time torrefied with 
a Fire that keeps the vcflel, red-hot, that Pre- 
cipitate is produced, which Crollius calls T'nrp^ 
tburn mmrale \ and after the firll and fecond ab- 
ftraftibn, proves a Medicine that afts very vio- 
lently both upwards and downwards, Crollm 
propofesto correft this Precipitate by longdige- 
ftion in a very ftrong Sand-heat *. 

24. if common Mercury-Sublimate be reduced 
to powder, and diflblved by digeftion in hot 
Water -, and Oil of Tartar per dcliquiiim be after- 
wards poured to the Solution, the Mercury will 
be precipitated to the bottom, in the form of a 
yellow or orange-colour'd Powder ; which ftill 
retains a good deal of the malignant eftedts of 
the common Mercury-Sublimate : whence *tis 
only ufed externally ; as particularly in cafe of 
fordid, venereal, or other ftubborn Ulcers. 

But Becbcr promifes a farther preparation o\ 
this Precipitate, and a fpecious exaltation there- 
of, fo as to make it of great internal ufe ; 
•which we recommend to farther experience f. 

duiei' 25. We lately obferved ||, what a fmall pro- 
^^'^ portion of concentrated Spirit of Salt fufficed 

Limsite. tO 

• There arc better Mcthcxls of preparing and corrc^ing 
this Precipitate for mediciiwl ufej which particularly rcff^ 
Pharmaceutical Chcmiftry. See Boerhaave's new Methw^ 
Chemiftry, Pra£^. pag. 194. 

f See Becher. CoACord. Chym'vc.Ro&C. CVn^*^ 
raw, alt. Sic. \\ Sec ^. xo. gl ^ 



§3' Dry Waters^ or Mercuries. 217 

to diflblve the Quick-filver into corrofivc Ai>r- 
curySublimaie y but this proportion is ftill Icfs 
in the preparation oiMercurins dulcis. For here 
three parts o( Mercury-Sublimate being reduced 
to powder in a glafs Mortar, and diligently 
crround with two parts, or with an equal weight, 
of crude Mercury^ till the globules thereof dif- 
appear, and then the matter committed to Sub- 
olimation, after the manner above-mention*d 
'Ui Mercury-Sublimate i firft with a gentle heat 
for two or three hours, whereby the fubjeft is 
torrefied and combined, as it were, by a heat of * 
cementatipji ;. then the Fire being gradually 
raifed to a proper height, and continued till all 
that will rife is fublimed; z red Caput Mortuum 
will be left at the bottom, and a kind of grey 
Flowers be found at the top of the veffel v both 
which are to be collected apart : but the other 
cryftallineSubftanceis theMercurius dulcis j which 
when taken out is to be ground again, with the 
addition of frelh Quick-filver, if it be capable 
of corroding any more ; and fo to be conjoined 
and fublimed again, in a Retort with a wide neck, 
that the fuperabundant quantity of the Mercury 
may distil off. Then laftly, the pure cryftal- 
line Subftance being yet once again fublimed by 
itfclf, is thus to be refcrvM for ufe, 

26. Tho* ^ick'fihery in all the ways hither- W#iier- 
to mentioned, thus varioufly combines with Salts, ^l^,^^ 
as likewifc with Sulphur, according to what wc/^ «^ 
haveobfervcd in Cinnabar*; yet at the bottom t^mwT'* 
it is not really altered thereby -, but may be 
again recovered, by the Method called •/Jwi«i;i/?- 
caiion^ from all thefc Compofitions, in its own . 
natural form and efficacy. For if any fuch Com- 
pofitions be mix*d with the Filings of Iron, or firft 
- boiM 



8 , Dry JVaters^ or Mercuries. Part II. 

boilM with an alkaline lixivium, and thus be firit 
reduced to a Precipitate, then diftill'd in an Iron- 
Retort, from fome powerful earthy mixture, 
or Iron-Filings; the Receiver for this purpofe 
being half filPd with Water ; the Mercury will 
be driven over ^d collefted, in its own ^tkd^ 
ly priftine ftate. 
tber 27. *Tis fomething, much more curious and 
^"^ir .valuable that Becher promifes * as to theaug- 
edhya mentation of CO mmon Mercury by means of a 
"^'^'* faline Spirit •, efpecially if, as he lays, after this 
repeated augmentation, it be poffible to reduce 
it into a tranfparent Water , equal in weight to 
the Mercury itfelf. And of this Water he elfe- 
where declares, it can by no means be again redu- 
ced into a running form, without the addition of 
a pure Metal, which by materially accreting to 
the humid liquor, will again conftitute it a dry 
fluid. From whence, if it were once thorougly e- 
ftabli(h*d by experience, we (liouM have a mani- 
fcft demonftration, and certain knowledge that 
running Mercury is compounded of Metal, and 
a certain Matter to be found in the Spirit of com- 
mon Salt, 

In order to the praftical execution of this 
thing, Becher hviS leveral experiments which 
may afford fome light ; efpecially in his Har- 
mony of MercurieSy i^c. f 

thing 28. Some light may alfo be expefted in this 
t^'X' affair from the Smoking Sprite formerly men- 
iing l\ov!i\%\ butdeferving here to be more tully in- 
j'Ij^*^. filled upon. ThisSpirit is madein the follo>yiug 
ciry. manner. Let two ounces of Tin be amalgama- 
3 ^^ 



• Miner. Arcnar. pag. 9 if. f Scf 

p.374. N^.Sf. p.419. N«.3«. W\llW*Kc 

^ Pag. 100, ^.jo. ' •'^v 



1 

;■ c J. J)ry Waters^ or Mercuries. i 

ted with two ounces and a half of common running 
. j^ercuryj and the Amalgam be well ground, to- 
gether with four ounces and a half of JMir- 
* ^curySublimate \ put the mixture into a glafs 
Retort, and diftil with a Sand-heat, into a ca- 
pacious empty Receiver fet in cold Water; 
obferving to lute the junfture. . ^ 

. The preparation of the Oil oi Mercury^ as 
*tis called, does not much differ from this 
Smoking Spirit \ but feems better fitted for cer- 
' tain purpofes. This is obtained by laying the 
fame Mixture upon an iron-plate that is tinned 
over, inftead of committing it to diftillation, 
and fuftering it to run per deliquium in a Cel- 
lar. This Liquor we find recommended by 
Becher^y as having many confiderable pro- 
perties. And to the flime purpofe is that re- 
markable palTage of Kunkel t, as to a certain 
military perfon who polfclVd a liquor which 
he called Mercurial fVater^ wherein a difco^ . 
lour'4 Turquoife-ftone being put, recovered 
its beauty. Becker \i^s alio other defcriptions 
of the Oil of Mercury^ wliich deferve to be 
confidcrM %. 

29. Bcfidcs all the Attempts hitherto men-Biwi 
tion'd of eximining Merciir)^ there is another ^^J'jf 
from which feme have hopes of getting more T^^ 
light into its nature •, viz. by its Precipitation ^'^* 
((rfe. In ortler to this, they firft wafh the ^tick- 
filur from all its blacknefs, with Salt and Vine- • 
gar \ then diftilling it once or twice from Quick- 
lime, thcv heat it in an earthen Pan or Cfuciblc 
till it juft begins to fume \ when putting it into a 

warm 



•See Concord. Chym. 8c Rofct, Chyiuic, piflim. 
/ ^'"'"^r- '" Neri Art. Vitrar, v^, \\i . ^ c\^ 
t Set Concord. Chyna, p^S SJl^ ^''•^^>'i^- 



\\i. 



JO -Ory Waters^ or Mercuries. Partll. 

warm Vial that has a flat bottom, they feal up 
the neck hermetically. The Mercury, thus con- 
tam*d in the yeflcl, is cxpofjd to a conftant Sand- 
heat for three quarters of a year, or fometimes 
for above a year, till at length it is found to 
lie at the bottom of the glafs in the form of a 
red powder, that feems half fix*d, or can no 
longer be moved with a pretty ftrong Fire. In 
this flate they call it M<?rc«/jf precipitated /)^r/^i 
and attribute its appearing m powder to a cer- 
tain mercurial, or arfenical Sulphur, which being 
ftruck out by the continued aft ion of the Fire, 
thus corroded the Mercury^ calcined it, and re- 
duced it to powder. But all thefe Terms they 
ought better to explain, and countenance the 
thing with a better dcmonftration. 

From this digeftion of the Mercury we may 
however, with fome probability, infer, that 
as, by the operation continued for a year, the 
fubjecl is brought to be half fix'd -, it pofli- 
bly might by a longer digeftion be brought 
to a greater, and at laft to a compleat de- 
gree of fixedncfs : but as there are much 
. Ihortcr ways of doing this, fo tedious an ope- 
ration cannot well be recommended. 

For any iarthcr knowledge as to the eflence 
o^ Mercury y I am afraid it muft not be expcfted 
from this Precipitation. But that Opinion is 
much more extravagant, which fuppofes that 
the Mercury thus totally fix*d by this Dige- 
ftion will change into GoKl. The notion of 
Becber feems abundantly more probable, when 
he maintains that common Mercury^ or the 
metallic JVater^ docs not viaterially differ from 
the Sulphur or vutallk Fire \ but is rather of the 
iluiie lubftance with it, and receives all \^ 
parent difference from Digeftion alone : 
* tjjat if the Mercurial atoms com'* "^ ' 



5*3* ^^y ^^^^^^^ ^^ Mercuries. 

clofely condcnfcd by long digcftion, 'tis not 
improbable that a more fix'd, and, from this 
clofer combination, a more tenacious Concretje9 
that is a new Mixt, Ihou'd be produced. This 
is countenanced by other more fuperficial Com- 
binations in various Subjcfts, which by dige« 
ftion are changed eitlier into a different con- 
fiftence or liability : of which wc have ex- 
amples enow in the bufmefs of Fermentation. 

*Tis here alfo an Experiment to be remarked, 
that if anew quantity of common Mercury be 
put to this Precipitate per fe^ and again di- 
gefted therewith, the new added quantity will 
now much fooner acquire the fame fixednefi, 
and turn into the fame powder, than if it were 
employed alone. We therefore recommend it . 
to the experience of fuch as have the oppor- 
tunity, to try whether by thus adding new 
parcels of Mercury for four or five times fuc- 
ceflively, and fo often . repeating the- mutual . 
Precipitation, a fubftance may not be obtained 
from Quick-lilver of great uie in Medicine ; 
but particularly in the art of Metals. . The ge-. 
nuine and original Azotb of He/ling leads one 
to expeft the former ; and the Method of the 
Philofoj)hic ff^orkj the latter. 

30. The mention of this yizolb leads us on to ^« 
confider the Compounds of Mercury ^ as they are{JJ| 
called ; but particularly its celebrated golden 
Precipitate, fuch as that of Hcjling^ which is clear- 
ly defcribed by Zw^Z/'cr^i whole advice to fub- 
ftitute Mercury fcven times fublimed from the 
ftellatc Martial Regulus and Silver, inftead of com- 
mon Quick-filvcr, defervcs to be noted j ef^^- 
cully with regard to the proportion of the in- 
gredients. 



22 Dry ff^aters^ or Mercuries. FsiTtll 

grediencs, which will by no means fuccced •, for 
no almalgam can poffibly be cxpcfted from three 
pares of a metallic mixture with one of Quick* 
filvcr *. But what is ftill more, if the Mercury 
were mixM in a proper quantity along with m 
metallic matter, yet wou*d it not become one 
jot better than common Mercury^ though the 
'work were a hundred times repeated in the pre- 
fcribed manner. Upon which head may be con- 
fuited the Complaints and Reproaches made by 
cnt Heriog of Todtenfeld^ againft Pbilalstba-\\ 
who, to foy the truth, did not deferve them ; 
the misfortune lying here, that Heriog only pof- 
fefs'd the Matter, without underftanding the 
Method, 
rmfnyr 31. Bcfides the transformations of Mercun 
/i^iv/iiff j^jtherto mentioned, as effefted by the means of 
^Mor per various additions, its diftiliation into a Liouor 
^^ngTt per fe^ is highly remarkable. The Method of 
»/« in a doing it is by Kirkringius cited from Baftl VaUn-^ 
Z'."^ tine^ and plainly hinted in his Preface, or rather 
Dedication to Valentine* % Triumphal Car of Anti- 
' mony: all the my ftery comes but to this. Hav- 
ing heated a tubulated Retort red-hot in its lower 
part, and fitted it with a firing of Adoptors, or a 
range of capacious Receivers let into one another; 
when the machine is thus prepared, a fmall Quan- 
tity o{ Mercury^ as about half a dram, or a dram 
at a time, is thrown thro* the tube upon the ig- 
nited bottom of the diftilling veflel •, then the 
tube being inftantly clofed, the violent motion of 
the Fire fcatters the Mercury about in very mi- 
nute particles, fo that it ruflies forcibly into the 
connefted Receivers, under the form of a fubtilc 
fume, which is there in great part condenfed into 
a limpid Water. F 

^Mantiff, Spagiric. Parti. Ca^.l^^^^^V^^ 
f See Ephcmcrid. Kaiuv. Cuuo&i* Kxk.^ 



§.3« ^^y ^^^^f'^y 0^ Mercuries. 22 

But altho* the Mifrri/rjf, by this Operation, 
comes exaftly to refemble an aqueous Sub- 
fiance ; yet if the Water be again diftillM, b 
a gentle heat of Sand, or a ftrong one in Balr 
fjeoj a great part of it returns to its prior run- 
ning form, at the bottom of the diftillingveC- 
fel i and by repeating the Operation, the whole 
quantity of the Water may be thus brought 
hKk to Mercury again. 

We find a like Converfion of ^ick-filver in- 
to Water propofed in Digby*s Experiments * i 
where he firji orders to put five pounds of 
well purified Mercury into a Retort fitted with 
a capacious earthen Receiver, and immediate- 
ly to apply a violent Fire, whereby a Tmall 
quantity of an aqueous Subftance will be col- 
lefted in the Receiver ; a fufiicient quantity 
thereof being obtainable by repeating the O- 
peration, with new Mercury. Secondly^ he or- 
ders a quantity of dry River-Sand to be put to 
the Quick-filver in a Cucurbit ; and to per- 
form tHe diftillation with a gentle Fire-, by 
which means he promifes the greateft part of 
the Mercury will come over in the form of Wa- 
ter : which we leave to farther experience. 

This is certain, that all common Mercury^ 
efpecially when it has been lately wafti*d in a- 
ny aqueous Liquors, holds a conuderable quan- 
tity of a watry Subftance ; tho* to the Senfcs it ' 
may appear perfectly dry .This obfervation muft 
be very carefully attenaed to in making Preci- 
pitate of fuch Mercury per fe ; fo as to have it 
perfeftly freed from its phlegm before it is her- 
metically fcaled up in a Vial j which it would 
otheiwite either certainly burftby its vapour: 
or elfe the water coUefting in drops on the upper 

part 



24 Dry Waters^ or Mercuries^ Part II. 

part of the glafs, and thence tailing back upon 
the part that is now intenfely hot, would im. 
mediately crack it. The Mercury therefor? is 
lirft to be heated in a Crucible 'till it begins to 
fume 5 then being taken from the Fire andfut. 
fer -d to cool a little, it thus becomes fit to be 
included in the glais. 

itMt^ 3ft, We have hitherto deliverd the Hiftory 

^i,^f *;,, of thofe Experiments which attempt to reiblvt 

rodutini Mercury into its Principles ; as alfo of thofe which 

^mfdJ^i. remotely at leaft, bring fome change upon it 

To give more light into this affair, we fhall nov 

farther add thofe Experiments whereby the gene 

ration of Mercury is effcfted \ which are fo mud 

the more valuable, as the conftituent parts of 

Compound become known, by joining them tc 

gether with one's own hand. 

For the Theory of this affliir, Becher is higl: 
ly tobe commended, as having in \S\tfcm\ 
Supplement to his Suhterraneal Ph'jficsy treate 
it with the utmoft candour and diftin6tnefs 
fo far as regards the matter : but to have evei 
where added the minute Encheirefes^ was ncith< 
agreeable to that place, nor always pofiible, 
The Foundation of the whole thing depem 
' upon fome certain portion of common Sal 

but efpecially of fuch as has been freed of 
grofler earthy, or ftony, aluminous and J 
tringent part, by means of an alkaline, ui 
nous Spirit •, whence Sal-ammoniac comes 
be very properly adapted for this Operation. 
But the whole quantity of the common & 
thus purified and lodgM in Sal-ammoniac, 
! by no means fit for this bufinefs •, but onlv 

very fmall part thereof. The grofs Salt is: 
firfl indeed purged of its coarfe fasces by the 
JatiJe Sale of Urine i but vi ftvil xtvJMi»^^' 



corrofivc Subftance, detaining a very fiiiall 
proportion of another exceedingly fubtile mat- 
ter, that is not precipitable by the fame vo- 
latile Salt : yet this alfo is precipitated by the 
addition of fix'd Salt of Tartar, tho* not fo as 
to fail to the bottom, like an Earth \ which in- 
deed were to be wi(h*d : but it's only fo loofen'd 
thereby, as freely to float about in the liquor ; 
where if it meets with a Subftance to which it 
may accrete, it eafily and readily does it. 

' 33, But referving the other eflential part of this pi 
Mercurification for its proper place under xht^ 
confideration of Metals \ we will here add, for a 5i 
Condufion of our Doftrine of Mercury, the Hi- J^ 
ftory of the Philofophical Mercury^ and of what is Su 
afpccies thereof, i\\^ animated Mercury. 

The former is the celebrated method of 
a chemical Artift who calls himfeJf Monte-* 
fftyder j and the latter that of a no lefs fa- 
mous and celebrated anonymous Writer, con- 
cealed under the Epithet of Philaletba^ and of 
another ftill prior to him, known by the Ti- 
tle of Alexander von Suckten. 

Montefnyder by his Enigma's is thought to 
mean Butter of Antimony j the bafis whereof 
is a faline, arfenical, and mercurial Earth. 
With this he intimately combines the body of 
Gold, and fcts them together in digeftion ; by 
means whereof, as the mercurial Principle ia 
a manner abovmds in this Butter, a lai-ge pro- 
portion of the contained Antimony, or Mar- 
lial Rcgulus, as alfo of the Gold, both of them 
being now greatly fubtilized, thus at firftcomc 
together into a nKrcurial, golden, and nurtial 
Subftance \ which upon a f irther condnuatioa 
cvt the work, being trom the nature of its gol- 
^Cti ixin brought into i\\c ad o^ tx^\m\\\\.w>j 



26 Dry Waters^ or Mercuriet. Part II. 

Fermentation, is at length turned into apow- 
' der, or truly golden Crocus, but cxccedmgly 
fubtilized; and therefore wonderfully aftive, 
fo as to be fit for exciting a ftill farther affimi- 
latory Fermentation. 

The Mercury of Philaletba zndSuchten is a 
running Mercury^ and fimply animated by an 
exceedingly attenuated portion of Gold, that 
is manifeftly difpofed to aflimilatory Fermen- 
tation. So that this Mercury is juft in the fame 
cafe as that Water which has Bakers Leaven 
diffolved in it ; for as that upon being mix'd 
. with the Meal, coarfely workM up into a lump, 
. very minutely pervades the whole mafs, and 
fubtily breaks and interpofes between the 
grofler clots of the meal, as the Water now 
grows more fpiritualizing, 'till at length the 
whole body of the fluid becomes the like kind 
of Ferment with the little q^uantity at firft put 
in ; fo the aft ive philofophiea^l Gold, being di- 
luted with the mineral Water, or common 
Mercury, is in this diluted ftate poured upon 
common Gold, as upon a grofs mafs, di- 
gefted therewith: and thus it comes very mi- 
nutely to pervade the grofs Gold, mix it 
with the Water, which at the fame time is 
fpiritualizing alfo, and aflimilatc its minuted 
atoms by th*^ conftant attrition and grinding 
of *em one againft another, *till at laft the 
whole mafs, or the entire quantity of com- 
mon Gold, together with the added mineral 
Water, is transfigured and transformed into the 
very fame nature and permanent Subftance with 

^ itfclf. 

€irFcuit. 34' Authors are principally agreed as 
r/ajfa0/ excellence of one or other of thefe two 
dnd the probability o£ \3ait,xiMS%r ' 



§-3* ^^y ^^*^^h or Mercuries. 

by fuch a procedure a large quantity of fermenting 
Gold is procured as it were atone operation \ fince 
chey all aflert, nor does it leem improbable, chac 
Gold in fubftance may be more exquifiteljr pene- 
iTated, diflblvM, ana fubtilized, and in greater 
quandty, by a very attenuated Spirit as it were 
of Mercury^ than by the grofi body of. the iliJrr- 
(ury itfelf. 

But 'tis remarkable that in the bumid as well 
as the dry way^ they fuppofe the material ufe of 
Pbilofopbical GoM^ which in both caiesisto be 
hoped for from Iron and Copper ; tho' there 
be room to fufpeA that the operation were not 
indeed impoflible without it : but it is furpri- 
zing how much more labour and repeated rc« 
volutions or circulations the thihg would then, 
in all probability, require. 

35. That embryonated Gold is afhially cJon* t 
tain*d in amtnated Mercury^ there are two Experi- ^ 

_ mcnts to fhew ; the one that of Sucbten^ wherein, oi 
by an cncheirefis but little known, from Mereury ^ 
dius animated, there is, with a fmall digeftion, a 
black powder feparatcd and thrown on the fur- 
face ; and which upon the touch-flone manifefts 
itfelf to be fine Gold. The other is that aUcdg'd 
by Becbcr^ where he fjiys, that if Silver-plates be 
nibbed over with fuch Mercury, in the manner 
they are ufually gilded, and the Mercury be af- 
terwards permitted to evaporate from them by a 
gentle heat, there will remain a yellow coat be- 
hind as in real gilding. * 

36, Mercury is animated for this Work accor- 
dii^ to the direftion of Becbcr^^ Zwel/^r f ^ 

Qi Her- 



♦ Suppkment. 11. in Phyf. Subictnn. 
f Zwel&r. Maotifl: Spagir. Pait.l- Cxf^ 7 * 



2 28 Dry WatefSy or Mercuries. Part II 

Hcrtoy^ ♦, and others, after the following man 

ner. 

The Martial Regulus of Antimony bcin| 
melted with twice its weight of fine filvcr, is t 
be amalgamated with thrice their quantity c 
Mercury : then the Amalgam being digeitec 
it throws up a powder to its furface 5 which 
to be walhM onf by tlie afFufion of fair Watei 
and trituration inaglafs or marble Mortar, I 
that the Amalgam may remain bright, an 
the water be ix)ured off clear. The Amalgai 
is now to be duly dried, put into a litt 
Retort, and committed to diftillation in 
Sand-heat ; where all the Mercury being drav 
over, the Silver that remains behind is to I 
. melted again with a new quantity of the Rcgi 

' lus, amalgamated with the fame Mercury^ dig€ 

ted, waih'd, and diftillM again : and this n 
lation is to be feven times repeated. Or if ar 
one fliould continue it ft ill farther, he wou*d nc 
perhaps, repent of his labour. 



SEC T. IV. 

Earths. 

Earths, I. ^ I "^ HOSE coarfer Subftances which a 
what, m a I ^q^ fimplv foluble in Water, To as 

Chemical JL . ^ / . . i Vi_ 11 -^ 

Sfpi/e. acquire a tenuity therein that mail re 

der them invifible ; and otherwife remain logn 
. or fo fixM, as obftinately. to refift the moti 
of the Fire •, wc call by the common name 
Earths. 

. .2. B 

:^ Ephcmcnd. Nat ur.Cunoiot. Au, '^^ 



'■■W P PP 



j,4. Friable Earths, 

2. But there is this general difference betweenn 
them, depending only upon the n>^nner of th^irj;^ 
aggregation, which yet introduces a fufficient 
diverflty of Species \ that fome of them thus 
conftitute an Aggregate, which, cohering widi 
lefs tenacity, implication, and continuity, ap- 
pears perfeftly dry and friable •, fb that all its 
conftituent parts may eafily return,* cither en- 
tirely or nearly, to their own original numerical 
form : whilft others have their parts fo a^rc- 
gatively interwoven among one another, that 'tis 
with great difficulty they feparate again ; all of 
them rather yielding at once to the various di- 
mcnlions of fituation, than admitting of any fc- 
paration from one another. 

Thefe different properties are ufually ex- »■ 
prcfsM by the terms briuUnefs or fnabi'iiy^ and ^^ 
du£liluy or malleabiliiy : and all the kinds or^ 
fubalternate Species of thefc friable Subjeffs im 
are by way of eminence, and in a more li- *■ 
mited fcnie, called Earths \ but chofe that are 
duilile^ Mctah. To prcferve the diftinftion, 
we (lull treat of each aixirt. 

FRIABLE EARTHS. 

3. It wou*d be very tedious, anJ of do giutn 
%iificancy in Chfv^iJ^^ to cnumerarr all rfjc'" 
pmicubr diSerences of tbeJe £L;~;25: : k nuy be £ 
t^cknt to oblenx the diibniuoos ihit nx« an- ^ 
nicdiaidy itganl us, as an£e^ iKvn'a ciff*- 
nait lenuity, and conM2Jer4dT'a c£jts: o^ 
§«tc of mobility, in the AjCgres:!::? ; ^h:rice 

Tilt iSib:.;r iuj^ri- i": rjuitv^iir irr ixnrr ri 
^'S^ or -i, ; bite ieixvn ixirii -Xi^ -^^sH 
^sipl*, or wiJxxjt CK Ji^ae^acict of 5iJ:s --« 



Ftioik Earth. Part 11. 

All the Edrtbs hoWfcvtr of this denomination, 
differ 6nly as the tenuity of their fmall fe* 
toarate particles render* them more or lefs ag^ 
gregative. An Example whereof we have in 
common Loam^ which by the Potters ii cal, 
led a Jhort Earthy becaule in the Aggregate 
it does not cohere tenacioully, fo as, upon 
bare wetting, to concrete into vifcous glebes j 
yet the glebes formM of it by the admixture 
of Water, come ih ibme meafure into ^ rtiafs j 
but fo, that if the Water be now feparated 
from it again, it eafily crumbles and falls 
back into its fingle confl ituent part^. 

To this Chfs belon^jr ^H the hungry Garden 
Earths y all the fandy Field Earths^ and fuch 
as are compofed of a mixture of both. 

The reafon why any Aggregate hereof fo 
eafily foils afunder, as we juft now hinted, 
jarifes from the dilFerent aggregative magni- 
tude of all the fmall pares, and the confequent 
inequability of their accidental and fortuitoqs 
figure; upon which account fuch particles 
cannot come into clofe contad, with broad 
and flat furfaces and angles, that mutually meet 
each other. 

Of this we have an experimental demon- 
ftration in all thefe kinds of Earths \ for if 
Any of them bp reduced to a great degree of 
finenefs by trituration, and then work'd up 
into a mafs by the means of Water, they will 
now cohere in a much greater dicgree of com- 
paftnefs, than when the Earth was cOarier in 
its fmall parts. 

Upon the fame Experiment liktwife depends 
what wc juft now obfcrved of the confidcra- 
ble cohefioh, whereby fuch fimpie mafies of 
Earth a;e n:a.le pretty ftVongly to hoi 
^^thtv by tifc banc intcrpbfitiort of V 

3 ■ ^ ■ 



J.4, Friable Earths. 

iho* in reality this may commonly be owing 
to the admixture of aialine Subftanfe. Thus, 
to ioftance in Terra ftgillatay which is of the 
(Jafi of Boles or Loams above-mention*d, the 
cohcfion is pretty ftrong \ but if that Earth 
be committra to diflillation in a veflel that is 
long kept red-hot by the Fire, there at laft 
conies over a fmall quantity of a humid Acid, 
in the form of Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur ; 
upon which the Earth is taken out exceedingly 
friable-, and what is very remarkable, ever after 
found deprived of that aftringency, whereby, 
when lightly moiften'd, it adhered to tne 
tongue ; unlefs thb be fome way reftored to 
it by the addition of a like new acid. 

4. Marl or Clay is di(lii^ui(h*d by its fat- M 
nets and vifcofity from Loam^ wliich we have^ 
noted for a hungry Bolar Earth. And indeedj^ 
all the marly or c]ay Earths have a certain mu- 
cous tenacity, \k hich makes them differ but lit- 
de from a real Mucilage, efpecially in fome one 
part. 

For fuch Earths arc all of them heteroge- 
neous \ havmg for their (imple matter fome 
voy fine earthy particles, fcarce perceivable 
to the toucli •, whence they arc denominated 
|r,'^yv Ejstbs : but for their more formal or 
fl>ecifical part, a ctrnain acid, falbe nutter, 
upon which their effect in feparatl-^ lalinc 
Sfirics, and fetting them tree fiim tl^eir alka- 
i*ne, or CAlcirious caithy pans, which bind 
tScm up into a dry iblii tonn, principJlv dc- 
pc-vk 

Wc likewise learn thxn Expericricr, that 
ihcje\^ry taacio;.^ Eir^^ ixj«: caidncd by 
themieS^fS or w^th<>u: the a^^-irjcc o: irr ri- 
t:ejcibie bv>iy, ;acia$ Fines Sjl>^h Li-^-ge, 



\Z Friable Earths. Part II. 

Iron-fcalcs, fcfr. do by the continued aftion of 
the Fire at length fall into a powder, or, as 
it were^ a Calx ; which afterwards by wetting, 
again acquires the cohefion, at lean: in fome 
degree, of z,Bolen 

fiaaciey g. We have two remarkable Examples of this 

*7/l- falinc matter thus procuring a tenacity, afforded 

matter, us by ^ick-Ume and Gypfum. 

Irt- *'^is commonly known, that if Sluichlim 

, #> be flaked with as much Water as will bring 

'• it into a pappy confidence, and this Water be 

fuffer*d gradually to exhale, the Lime con^ 

cretes into a ftony hardnefs. But if, on the 

other hand, a much larger quantity of Water 

were poured upon it, then decanted or per- 

mitted to evaporate, with the gentle warmth 

of the Air,. the Calx wou'd remain perfeftly 

friable and dufty. 

The caufcs of which phaenomcnon lie here, 
(i) That as the Salt of the Lime is in the firft 
cafe diffolved by a fmall quantity of Water, it 
may thus bccommodioufly intermixed with the 
other terreftrial parts, ana during the evapora- 
tion of the fuperfluous moifture, go with the 
remainder into a compad: cryftalline fonni 
which grows fo much the firmer by the admix- 
ture of the grofs terreftrial particles. 

But (2) when this Salt is elixatcd and walhM 
away with a large proportion of Water, *tis inv 
poffiblc the remaining Earth fhould hold to- 
gether. And when this great quantity of Wa- 
ter is fufier*d flowly to evaporate upon the Hime 
Sediment, part of the Salt of the Lime, being 
now more intimately faturated with a portion 
of the earth, will daily concrete upon the fur- 
face of the liquor, in the form of an 
fkin, called the Cream of Quick-lime, v 



5,4. Friable Earths. 

afterwards finks down, and refts a-top of chie . 
Sediment ; whilft another part (hoots in a ftony 
cruft to the fides of the containing veflW: 
that is, the Salt now concretes into the fame 
ftony jiardnefs along with a very fmall pro- 
portion, as it did before along with the whole 
body, of the Earlb. 

6. Gypfum contains a much more tenacious fa* jh 
line Subftance of the fame kind s which by a ^ 
fomewhat more violent agitation of the Fire, is Ui 
again collc6ted into the grofs earthy matter, 
and lofes all its faline tenacity. 

This appears from the manner of its Pre- 
paration, which is as follows. The fofter 
Alabaftcr being reduced to fine powder, 
fifted, and put into a wide open Pan, either 
of Earth or Iron, or, if the bulk be .large, 
into a Copper, and expofed to fuch a heat, 
as that the matter may no where glow, but 
ft ill be kept by far too hot to.be touched 
with the hand ; the powder will thus be 
brought to flow, andwith a light agitation 
to boil or bubble : which ebullition and agita- 
tion are to be continued with an equable, flow 
fire, till the matter taken up with a ladle, 
does not lie in a heap thereon, but runs off 
from it whilfl: held almofl: horizontal. Then 
this matter being removed from the Fire, and 
cooled, is to be kept in a dry place, under 
the name of Gypfum. 

If any parcel of this Powder or Gypfum be 
brought to a pappy confiftence with warm 
Water, the humid mafs will in the fpace of 
half a quarter, or a quarter of an hour, be 
thence compared into fuch a hardnefs as to 
ring. But if in the preparation the heat were 
wwafcd to the degree 01 igjaluotv^ ot xJa^tci^v 



234 Friable Earths. PartH 

tcf kept gently ignited for a vcrv little time, 
and it be afterwards moiften'a with Wa- 
ter as before^ it now only acquires a friable 
confiftcnce, or a degree of firmnefs lefs tcna* 
cious even than that of Bole itfelf« 

rb$ rfr*»/- 7* '^^^^ feveral Earths hitherto mentioned con- 
fMftnt ftitute an opake Aggregate •, that is, fuch an 
i«^ ^ ^^^ whofe parts are not commoveable by the 
very fubtile motion of Light : but there is another 
Species of Earths that come into a tenacioufly 
cohering Aggregate \ and at the fame time ad- 
mit of a confidcrably intenfe and inherent mo- 
tion of their fmalleft conftituent parts *• 

Such kind of Aggregates are Gems *, fonye 
whereof are homogeneous and perfedtly tranf- 
parent, as the Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Ja- 
cinth, Emerald, i^c. to which may be added 
various kinds of Sands and Gla0cs, thofe com* 
monly called metallic Fluors, and the whole 
family of Cryftals. 

There are other Gems called coloured oncsj 
whofe tranfparency is here and there oblcurcd 
or fpotted by the interpofition of afmall quan- 
tity of exceedingly fine opake matter ; which 
fometimes proving larger in quantity andgrof- 
fer, totally obfcures the ftones, or renders thcra 
opake, and leaves them only poflcfsM of firm- 
nefs, and an exceedingly bright poliih. And 
there arc fome again, as it were, unequally 
mix*d of thcfe two. Of the firft kind arc all 
the coloured Gems in general \ of the fecond, 
tht ^urqmifs^thtOpal^ ihtOfi'jx^ tht Canmk 
the red Jafper, &c. and of the laft, the varii- 
gated Jafptfr and jlgate. 

Now 



.^ Sce£(yU Abridgm, Vo\•\•^•\6^.A|^V*^•^'^*'^•'^^ 



c l. Friable Earths. 

No« thefe cmnfparenc Earths^ whilft under 
a cftmulous mocioti ^ in their aggregate^ are 
ftrtck upon by the rays of Light, which they 
agaiA throw off in the fame angle *, whence pro •. 
teeds the bf ightnefs or f{>lendor of tranfparcnc 
Gems, viz. from the Light thus reflefted on 
their furfece, 

Thefe diaphanous Earths have this tremu* 
lous property in common with fonorous Earths \ 
ts approaching thereto either in the individual 
tenuity of their whole fubftance, or fome prin- 
ciple thereof. For as the corpufcles that are 
capable of being impelled by the Light of the 
Sun, moving the rays of tiie air, mult needs 
te greatly attenuated; fo thofe corpufcles . 
which in the aggregate are moveable by fo 
fine a tremulous or undulatory motion, as to 
vibrate the phyfical lines of the Air, muft al- 
fo of neceffity be exceedingly fmall. But 
fuch bodies are either tranfparcnt, or, ifopoke, 
the moft attenuated Metals j which being 
concreted into an Aggregate, are fo clofe- 
Iv and intimately combined, that a ray of 
hght can fcarce defcend below their furtace, 
but it is immediately repell'd : as may be de- 
monftrated to the fenfes from Optics. 

8. Before we quit this fubjeft of Gems^ as J; 
thfcy are Aggregates of the moft pcrfeft R^rtb^ 3 
it is to be obferved, that a knowledge thereof^ 
depends upon two principal things ; viz. their si 
Hardnefs, and their 0/o»r. 

Their Hardnefs is cothmonly allowM to 
ftand in this order ; the Diamond firft, as 
moft compaft of all, next after which comes 
the Rub'j^ then the Sapphire^ the Jacinth^ the 

Emerald^ 



y 



)^ Friable Earths. Pan 

Emerald^ x\itAmelby ft 9 the Garnet^ thci 
nsoU the Chalcedony^ the O;?)'^, the 7a^ 
and after thefe fucceed Agate^ Porphye 
Marble^ This difference however is not 
gular and conftant, but frequently varies. G 
Cryftals may be allowed to fucceed the 0; 
but the whole Family of Metallic GlaJ/y h] 
feem to be ftill fofter. 

In point of Colour^ the Diamond is va 
for its tranfparency, the Ruby for its pui 
• the Sapphire for its blue, the Emerald fo 
. green, the 7^a;i//& for its orange, tht jime 
for its violet, the Turquoife for its azure, 
Carneol for its carnation, ihtOnyx for its.i 
ny, the Jafpcr^ Agate and Porphye for i 
Vermillion, green, and variegated colours, 
the Garnet for its tranfparent blood-red. 

All t\\tkGems^ as they, are fometiniesfc 
coloured or fpotted, along with their ti 
parency, fo are they fometimes perfectly lir 
and colourlefs ; in which cafe the DiaiiK 
cutter or Polifher knows how to dilling 
their feveral Species from their different dej 
\ of hardnefs upon the Mill. 

For tht cutiir?g or polijhifig c/Gems^ the 
powder of the Fragments of thbfe that 
next in degree of hardnefs is always re 
red to grind and v/ear away the fofter j h\ 
none ot them are harder than the Diam< 
this can only be polilh*d with its own powd 

Mr. Boyle has many curious obfervationi 
on thisfubjeftofG^;»j, in fpeaking ofa- 
7nond that fhone ih the dark ; where he 1 
that fuch Diamonds as arc left with fmall 
perities or inequalities upon their furf ice, t 
an impcrfcdion in the polifliing, have a 

t 






^§4* Ft table Earths., z 

them this faculty, viz. of fhining luminous in 
the darkeft place*. 

9. As to the thing that gives the Colour to tnm 
Gmsy there are many different opinions, or ra-^^^ 

' ther bare conjcftures. Thus much is certain, that C9i9ut 

whatever it be, 'tis a real fubftance, or certain '"''*' 

individual opake corpufcles, that varioufly refledfc 

the Light in its motion. But that this body 

(hou'd be Copper, for inftance, which gives the fine 

" blue to the Sapphire, or to Lapis Lazuli^ becaufe 

it gives the like colour to Spirit of Sal-ammoniac, 

feems the lefs probable, as this colour does not 

abfolutciy depend upon the Copper, but upon the 

property of the Spirit united with it: for the fame 

L Copper turns an acid Spirit of a green colour •, 

; and with Glafs fome times makes a green, fome- 

' times a red, fometimes a blue, and fometimes a 

= black. Upon no better foundation aUb (lands 

that Opinion of the Garnet^ as receiving its co- 

' lour from Iron, becaufe Iron exhibits fuch a co- 

r lour in its Glafs ; for Iron docs not produce 

fuch effefts as it is Iron, but as Iron differently 

prepared \ and fuch Preparations thereof are no 

where to be found natural : for inftance, the Cro- 

: m Martis made with Vinegar -f. 

10. We are farther to obferve of the Bolamej 
Eartbsy that they are a kind of Aggregate, con--^^*^^ 
fifting of numerous other leflTer Aggregates, or ///<,« 

• fenfible Moleculnsi or, indeed that they commonly ^^^ ^' 

• are no more than a rude heap, or heterogeneous 

• Mafs, containing many of the Earths above men- 
^ tioned, both opake, tranfparent and metalline. 

Whence 

r _ 

f * Sec Boylt Abridgm. Vol.III. pag. \fi iff. 

f Sec more of this apnd Kunkd, vx Ncri Art. vurar, Ca^, 
J^'^^>H,3f' and Mr. BcyU ol'Gcms KWv^?,ta. N A AW 
•^'ir- 'iS; ii^, I io, ii6, 1 17, 8cc. 



38 ^ Friahle Earths. Pai 

Whence it is no wonder that Iron, fl 
ftance, by modern experiments, has been 
made out of common Loam. For as Ire 
heterogeneous body, tempered up with 
opake and much vitrefcible earth, alortg 
fome metalline parts •, *tis not at all im{ 
ble, either that the two jfr/? Earths, 
are plentifully found to exift in Loam, i 
be readily combined by the addition { 
third \ or that all of them being prefeni 
ther, Ihou'd be join'd by a fuitable C 
tion, and feparated from the other part 
do not unite therewith. 

Upon the fame foundation depend 
Extraftions from Emery, Blood-ftone, a 
Crocus of Iron itfclf, whereby Gold recei 
Augmentation*, what is thus extraftec 
putting on a metallic form along wii 
Gold, and preferving it upon moft 1 
till at lengtn, by the acceflionof thei 
lie complement, they every one beqomi 
manent and perfeft Gold *. 

Tbemamur Ti. But again, to fcpatatc thcfc fevcral! 
^iJt^hUr ^^^ ^^^ ^^ blended, is a work of great diflii 
ymrtu particularly to get the opake, calcario 
nomogeneous Bohr Earth clear of that w: 
tranfparent and vitrefcible. But it is much 
bour to.feparate the metalline parts fron 
both. 

The beft way of feparating the finer < 
particles from the larger fandy, is by Wc 
which alfo eafily gets the fmalleft metalli 
away from thole of the fame fize, and t 
a ftrifter fenfe are called earthy. 



See BmhtT^ ^^^- '^c^.^^S!^ 



_^^^BBBBHBBHBBBBIBBBBBBBm 

M. Friable Earths. . 239 

1 2. Under this head of Earths it may not bcTitM^ 
improper to range thofc artificial, tenacious/'^jj.^ 
Clays called L«/^j •, which are commonly oppo- J^l^ 
fed to the violence of the Fire, the efcape of *ub-^^*^*' 
ale fubftances, and are very neccflary in che- "^* 
mical Operations. 

Thefe Lutes are either defign'd for the ma- 
king of Earthen Veffels, fuch as Retorts, Cru- 
cibles, &fr. or for coating over veffels of Glafs, 
fo as to defend them in a naked Fire ; or laft- 
ly, for the flopping up of Junftures, Orifices, 
or Cracks, of receiving, preferving and diftil- 
ling Veffels, in thofc parts that arc fartheft 
from the Fire. 

There are fome natural Clays found fit, 
whereof to form Veffels for diftillation, fubli- 
mation, calcination and reverberation •, as be- 
ing well compafted and contemper'd with a 
fufficient quantity of a tenacious vitrifiable 
Subftance-, fo as to require no previous prepa- 
ration for the hand of the Potter, who is to 
give them their figure. 

But other Clays require to be artificially 
temper'd to fit them for this purpofe. Thus 
thofe that when dry cohere but loofely, are to 
be mix*d with a fuitable proportion of Iron- 
. fcales or Filings •, and thofe that remain foft in 
the Fire, with powderM Flints or Glafs. Some- 
times alfo a little Litharge is found proper-, as 
giving the veffels a greater degree of tenacity. 
For Crucibles and other Mclcing-Pots, the 
native HaJJian Earth is to be prefer*d, or that 
of Aujlria •, but the Hajfian being fandy, and 
the Auftrian martial, this is foonelt prcyM up- 
on and deftroy*d by Salts and Antimony, and 
that by Lead. 

But as Lead and the Glafs of Lead immediatc- 
^y break or run thro* all fgits of Crucibles^ we 



o Friable Earths. Part II 

' • ought to have an eye upon that Mixture of £^* 

. ther^ which contains this Glafs for a long time. 

: in fufion. This Mixture is made as follows, 
Take of the green fat talky Earthy which, as 
a Covering almoft every where refembles the 

. traflt of a metallic vein, and grind it with an 

• equal quantity of fubtile white Earth, fuch as 
Tobacco-pipe or Glafs-houfe Clay ; and let 

• them be finely fifted ; then moiftcn the powder 
. with Lime-water, and carefully beat them to- 

gether for an hour or two, till the particles of 

. both the Earths are fo well mixM as no longer 
to appear diftinguilhable. Of this Mixture 

.brought, to a proper confiftence, melting vef- 
;• : '• : • fels being forni'd, are afterwards to be well 
dry'd and burnt. 

For the luting or coating of Veflels, 'tis pro- 

. per to ufe Loam or Bole temper*d up with the 
powder of Iron-fcales and Cows-hair, to make 
it hold together in the drying. For all Pot- 
ters-Clay (brinks in the drying, but efpecially 
in the kiln; and by that means theveffelsea- 
fily come to break, unlefs they are made very 
ftrong. But the Method of V'tgani is here com- 
modious, which employs ready- baked pots 
nearly anfwering the figure of the veflel that is 
fet and preferved therein, as it were in Cajfel" 
la vacua. 

For luting up the Jun5lures of Vejfels^ diffe- 
rent Subftances are required according to the 
nature of the Matters to be diftiird. 

Volatile alkaline Spirits are beft kept in by , 
common Bole, moiften'd with thin Water- 
glew, and gently dried before the diftillation 

. is begun. Wax alfo, made a little more te- 
nacious with Turpentine, is here very comnH> 
dious •, provided the heat does not reach 

' the place where it is applied^ 



tj^ Friable Earths. 

Tor Sulphureous oily bodies^ an Ox-bladdet or 
a Paftc of Flower may fcrvc the turn : 'tis 
more troublefome to make a particular Mix* 
ture for this purpofe, with the White of an Egg 
well beat up, and Quick-lime. 

Jdd Sprits^^ fuch as Aqua-fortU^ tSd may 
be confined with Bole made into a ftiff pafte 
widi Linfeed-Oil ; and over this may be lakl a 
Plaifter of Pitch. But as the force of the di- 
ftilling matter eafily breaks thro* fo fofi: a 
Mafs \ and as the heat in this cafe will ufually 
melt the Pitch, the junftures here (hou'd ra- 
.therbe luted with tough Clay, which wheii 
gendy dried, is to be well moiften'd with hot 
Linfeed-Oil. But left any part of the Luting 
(houM, upon its removal, after the operation 
is over, fall into the Receiver, and foul the 
diftiird Spirit, a paper fliouM firft be wrapped 
round the joint, and the luting applied up* 
on it. 

When Glaffes crack by accident, to prevent 
the contained Liquor or Spirit from coming 
out, a luting made of two parts Litharge, ana 
one part Bole, beat up together with the white 
of an Egg, fpread upon a linen cloth, and ap 
plied, is no bad remedy. 

13. Among the moft attenuated kind of Earths ^'J 
may be reckoned Gums and Mucilages^ confiding «r! 
of Concretes, with a large proportion of a fub- J*^ 
tile Earth, a faline and a fat fubftance. 

Thefe are of two kinds ; vtz. Vegetable and 
Animal 

The Vegetable Gums which flow from feveral 
Trees upon the burfting of their bark,^ as 
the Cherry-tree, the .Plumb-tree, the Peach* 
tree, i^c. are nothing elfe but the L^mpba 
^f thofc Trees i tVwit \s^ a N^^\tt ^ vw^ 



^2 Friable Earths. PaitH 

fiibtile Earth mix'd up with aTmall quantity 
of a falinc oily Subftance ; and dcfign'd fii 
the nourifhmcnt of the woody parts of the ! 
V^etable. 

This Earth nearly approaches the tenuity of 
a Salt; whence, being mixM with a fmall pro. 
portion of Water, which it always retains, it 

• has thetranlpariency of a faline cryftallinc Sub- 
• ftance, and when aiflblvM in a large quantity 

of Water, thus floats about as a Salt. 

There is a lefs degree of cohcfion and tcna- 
/ city of both thefe Subftances, viz. the aqueous 
' ViTiQt\it tz,rrhy^m xhtMucUages of Veget abler, 

fuch for inftance as are plentifully afforded by 

Linfeed, Quince-feed, Semen PfjlUu tfr. which 
/ are intcrmix'd with a jpretty large proportion 

of Oil 

7Arwf> ' 14. Two Subftances of die like kind arc alfo 
li Imd found in Animals \ viz. one that is mucous^ and 
lyffuet ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^5 glutinous or gelatinous. 
'fdimaL We have an Inftance of the former in the 
Salival Lmpbe^ condenfed either by too large 
an evaporation of its aqueous particles, whence 
the glatinofity of the Saliva obferved in ardent 
and flow Fevers; or elfe by the admixtotcof 
other fine folid particles. Thus upon gently 
chewing and fwallowing Grapes, frdh tart 
Cherries, or flowly fipping fermenting Muftt 
or hot Wine that isauftere and ftyptici the Sa- 
lival Lymphe is condensed into a mncous tena- 
city, by the interfperfion of the falinc, cartbyj 

* afta-ingent particles of thefe Concretes. 

\ Jellies or Glews art the fame kindot 
; Lymphe highly condensed, that is, gready de- 
prived of its aqueous particles *, fo tihat bu^ 
of them now remain mixM with the c 
whence they tutnmio a'ftracf 



1.4. Priabh Bartbi. 

mucilage iigain, by the addition of fuch Wf 

tcr. 

Tis&rthcr to be obrerv*4 thatdiefegiiin«r 
my Of gelatinous animal Subft^nccs are mix^d 
wmi a larger quantity of alkaline oily SaJK* m4 
thence obtain a faponaceous nature. 

15, The manner wherein both of them arefei^ 
parated and prepared, defenres alfo to be con- 
iidcr'd. 

We lately obferv^d ♦, that the vfgeUUe Guirn^ 
fponcanooudy diftillM from Trees^ when any ex- c 
temai violence has br<^e their veins or panals:^ 
but the animal Gums are fbtch'd out of the glucir 
noiispartt of Animals, by boiling them iq fair 
Witer. 

Thefe mucilaginous parts are principally the 
Fle(h of Animals ; a parcel whereof being, a^ 
long with a little Water, put into a pewter bo- 
dy, fumilhM with its fcrew-hfcad, and che bor 
dy thus well clo&d, fet into a Copper of boilmp ' 
Water, and continued there forfome hours ; if 
after this it be taken out, and the matter (trained 
hot, andexpofed to the open Air, it there ht^ 
romes a folid 3ub£tance ; the remainder from 
whence the thinner part was thus exprefs'd^ 
now appearing reduc'd almoft to the form of 
a powder. 

16. Tho* this Ejtperiment may feemf derived 
from the kitchen, 'twas neverthelcfs the Founda- 
tion of that Machine called P apings Digeftor^ (o 
much adipired at prefent for foftening the Bones 
of Animals ; tlie operation and inftruments being 
die (ame in both (afes \ only performed by the 

■ ^ ■ Dj- 



Friable Earth's. Part 11^ 

Digejior with much greater advantage and con- 



venience *. 



Thus the Bbneis, the Horns, and all the hard 
or folid earthy parts of animal bodies, aric by this 
Glew, as 'tis more or lefs dried, compared in- 
to a tenacity or compleat degree of hardncfs, 
For if any bony fubftance, as harts-horn for in- 
ftance, be ftrongly boiled with nothing but 
Water for two or three days in a clofe veflHj 
the liquor being poured off at times, efpecially 
' the firft day, and frefh Water put on ; the horn 
will at length fall into a white powder: and if 
thie liquors poured off be exhaled till their fu- 
pcrfluous Water is wafted, they leave that Glew 
behind, which before compared this white pow- 
der into fo great a degree of firmnefs ; tho* now 
very much altered in its tenacity by the long 
boiling. 

17. It fcems indeed furprizing, that thb gluti- 
nous fubftance alone, fliou'd, with fuch an at- 
tenuated Earth, come into fo great a degree 
of firmnefs, as we find not only in Ivory, but 
alfo in the Boar's Tufh, and the Tooth of the Ri* 
ver-horfe : yet all thefe fubftances are diflblved 
in the fame manner, barely by being mtenfely 
boiled in Water, as above mentioned. 
^-^- ' 18. Tht Mucilages of Seeds md Roots, asthofc 
r^/v- of Mallows, £j?r. are extrafted by bare maccra- 
f^t«- ^^^" ^ warm Water, or by gentle decoftion > the 
a^' thin part being ftrain'd oft' clear. 
'^'* But the Gums that are rendered foul by the 

admixture of woody or other heterogeneous 
bodies, are fome of them purified by bare fo- 
lution in Water \ fuch as Gum- Arabic, Gum- 
Tragacanth, fcf^. others by boiling either in 
'Wine or Vinegar, as Gum-Anunoniac, G 



* Sec £fi/if Abridgm.Vol U» v^^^S^ 



§.4* Malleable Earths or Metals. . . ! 

banum, Gum-Hcdera, 6?r. for being thiis 
diffolv'd and prefsM thro* a linen Strainer, they 
* leave their impurities behind. ' 

MALLEABLE .EARTHS OR M'E- 
TALS IN GENERAL. 

19. Metals are a Species of very fubtilc, yetjii^. 
opaice Earthy difpofed to form a tenacious, ahdx^j* 
confecjuently a malleable Aggregate •, which is 
fluid in the Fire, more or lefs Tonorous in the 
Air, and of a great degree of ponderofity. 

They are commonly divided into ferfeEt and Dim 
imperfect ^ and thefe again into compleat and !«• 
compleat Metals. 

The perfect Metals are fuppofed to be two \inf» 
viz. Gold and Silver : and the imperfeSi ones four i^%^ 
viz. Copper^ Lead^ Tin and Iron \ which are o- 
therwife faid to be compleat Metals. ^^^ 

The incompleat Metals are Bifmutb^ Zink or And 
Spelter^ Regulus of Antimony^ and the Regulus^^^^^ 
ofArfenic: which have weight, appearance and. 
fufibility at the Fire, in common with real Me* 
tals', but are brittle, and all more or lefs vola*- 
tHe. 

Yet thefe are npt exadlly all the Species of in-- 
compleat Metals % for many other Subftances are 
found thus far metallic, tho* neglcfted either be- 
caufe their manner of preparation and ufe remains • 
unknown \ or becaufe they may be indirectly 
feferr'd to fome of the above-mention'd Claffes. 

20. 'Tis a prevailing Opinion at this time, /* « 
and feems to be daily more and more confirmed, ^^^ 
that the imferfeSl Metals differ only by accident/^-y* 
from the perfe^ \ on account either of Digc-13SS 
'^^on, or the tenacious adhefion of heterogene- 
ous Subftances. 

R3 ^1 



5 MalUabl€ Earths or Meiali. Vm II, 

Bv Dkeltim or Concaftion we here under* 
ftand ramer the effedt; of the Operation, t}^a 
the Operation itfelf ^ viz. % dofer combina* 
tion ot thofe very attenuated particles which 
in commoa Mercury, yet appear as it were 
individually diftin£i: \ whence, as fingle corpus 
ties, they prove unable to fuftain the impqlfe 
of the Fire •, but are thereby raifed in the form 
of a fiabtile fume into the Air. 

} in a I. Now thefe very fubtile and very moVe- 

[^■^■* able pafticles may be conceived fixable two dif» 
mM^^ ftrtnt ways: And /r/? by Aggregation, fothat 
ik^hn. fcv^^^^ particles (hall be tenacioufly aggregated 
'^** into one molecula. Something of this kind hap- 
pens in Mercury precipitated per fe \ which tho' 
it was before exceeding volatile and Auid, fo as 
to evaporate in a fume of exceeding fine parts j 
it is now made fonciewhat more fix'd, and ex- 
hibits thofe very fubtile atoms join'd together in- 
to more fenfible corpufcles, under the form of 
a dry powder. We do not indeed from hence 
infer, that Mercury of it felf is an immature 
Metal, which without the addition or feparaticm 
of any other thing, may be reduced to a pcrfeft 
Metal •, let it fuffice to have Ihewn by this pte- 
pomenon, that a greater degree of fixednefs may 
be derived from an aggregative connexion of 
prticles, 
i The fecofid way of conceiving this Digeftion 

; requires the afliftance of aflimilatory and mutual 
I attrition anA confriftipn. Thus the fpagirical 
people fuppofe, and undertake to poducc 
from Gold, a certain powder^, or fix'd Sub- 
ibncc that makes a conftitucnt part in ^ 
tals : and this they fometimes call by the i 
pf the Sulphur, and fometimes the Sei 
Pojfd, This f owder t^ekv^ a.d4cdl t;p ^ ^^ 



§.4* Malleable Earths or Metals. 247 

lial Subftance^ and coagitated therewith by 
digeftioDf does by a certain affimilatorv tri* 
turation, reduce ibi9e prts of the body of 
che Mercury to its own figure ; chat is, it 
brings the mercurial particles from their glo* 
bular to a flatter form : fo that being now 
iirft interfperfed in fome Fluid, they thicken 
\i\ and by degrees, fix along with them- 
i^ves, what is joined to them *, not only as 
the more immoveable particles thus detain 
thofe that are lefs moveable, but as two of 
them being connefled together, become more 
immoveable, both by their magnitude, and 
weight *, that is, more fix'd, fo as not to be 
moved by the force which moved them be- 
fore. 

22. Mercury duly animated affords us a very 
remarkable alteration from the admixture of fu^h 
a Subftance ; and all the fpagirical tribe affirm, 
chat the bafis or metallic part of the imperfc£^ 
Metals is of the fame origin with that. We 
are not however to fuppofe, that Nature makes 
ufe of fuch a digefl:ion of Mercury in the gene- 
ration of Gold ^ or that any of the imperfedt 
Metals, we do not fay the incompleat ones, 
though their Ores were to lie ever fo long in 
the Earth, wouM be thus tranfmuted into Gold. 



23. On the contrary. Nature fcems to produce «^^w 
-/ery Metal almoft inftantaneoufly \ at Icaft this JJ^Tr^ 
nuy be conceived after the following manner. ^^^^^ 
If in the bowels of a Mountain, or any decp^^^** 
parts of the Earth, a vapour flK>u'd arilc from 
a Subftance, utterly unknown to us a priori^ that 
lay cither there before, or is generated on the 
fpot *, or if this Subftance itfelt, in the form of 
fuch a vapour, fliou*4 fucceflively rife and creep 
thro* the cavernous body of vaft tra&s of Rocks» 
R 4 <w^ 



8x8 Malleabk Earths or Metals. Pan II, 

the Veins and Qefcs of Flints, or the inter, 
ftices of huge beds of lefler Stones, and every 
where move about till it impinges upon a cer* 
tain Species of a fubtile vitrelcible Earth, whidi 
is fitted to receive it, or to become one that, 
with \ here it muft lodge as in its Matrix, till 
fome more powerful impulfe difturbs it. 

We may the better conceive how this fliorfd 
happen from an Example of that Mud found at 
the head of Springs, which, as5^rA^ remarkably 
obfervcs *, receives and concentrates the aque- 
ous vapours,notwithfl:anding the diurnal heat of 
the Sun. And after the fame manner do Alka- 
j lies receive and tenacioufly detain the humid 

vapours of tlie Air. 

And as vapours of a different kind, fuch as 
the Mercurial, Arfenical,Sulphureous,tfr. come 
to mix in certain proportions along with that 
original vapour, and fix therewith in a proper 
Matrix, hence may proceed the various forts 
of perfcft and imperfeft, compleat and ineom- 
pleat metalline bodies : or from any error in the 
ingredients as to proportion, fcfr. wrong con- 
formations or degenerate Metals may ar5c. 

24. That the metallic Principles may thus 
wander thro' the Earth, in the form of vapour, 
feems countenanced by the common obfcrvation 
pf thofe Mines which take their cpurfe near the 
furface of the Earth. 

For if a mineral vein lies fhallbw, it oftctt 
gives manifcft figns of being fupplied with fuch 
a vapour, not only in Suinmer, by changing 
the colour of the ftones that lie over it ; but 
alfo in Winter, by diflblving the Snow that 
lies along the traft where it runs : and this kind 

of 

* PhjCic. Subtcriaa. Seft, W C^^ • "i, V^» 



] i4* Malleable Earths or Metals. 

I of exhalation b by the Miners called the Stmn^ 
The like Vapours alfo frequently happen m 
(he Burrows and Caverns or the Mine, whilft 
they are digging the Vein for the Metal aU 
ready formM therein \ and fometimes make the 

I place very hot, fometioies occafion coughs and 
hoarfenefs \ and fometimes again, when they 
arc large and mix'd with other mineral va- 
pours, they prove fufFocative. The workmen 

! have commonly notice hereof given them by 
their lights fudaenly burning larger and brigh- 
ter; upon which they immediately quit the 
place. 

; Thefe fufFocating Vapours they call by the 
name of Dampi^ but the lefs noxious, tho' 

, . ftill ofFenfive ones, they term the bad ff^ea^ 
tber 5 whence 'tis a phrafe among the Miners 
to drive away the bad ff^eatber^ which they 
efFeft cither by digging a paffage through the 
fides of the Mountain, and thus opening a 
communication, that the Air may circulate 

• freely ; or elfe by means of particular Engines 
contrived for the purpofe *. 

25. At leaft, therefore, it may more eafdy 
be conceived, that Metals fliould be thus, as it 
were, inilant^neoufly generated, than that the 
imperfeft Metals fhould, as fome fuppofe, be 
converted into the perfed, barely by long con- 
tinued ConcoAion in the Earth, or by lying 
therein for fome hundreds of years, without the 
addition of any new matter, or any diminution 
of the old. This feems very hard to conceive i 
bur there is nothing abfurd in allowing, that up* 
on a due concurrence of the metalline Principles, 
Metals £hou*d be immediately produced s and 

that 

* Sec Phiioi: Traoiift, Lowil Kwvi^m.N ^,VL yH^^WH 



Malleable Earths or Meials.Vzit IJ, 

that if diefe Principles meet improperly » either as 
to number, proportion or heterogeneity^ they 
Ihould either remain jperpetually in that wrong 
ftate of mixture they wou*d then have, or at 
fome time or other, whether fooncr or later, up- 
on the fortuitous or natural acceflion of fcune 
principle that was before deficient, . they IhcA'd 
be aftually. perfeded, or dcftroy*d by the admix* 
ture of one that is heterogeneous. 

Cafes of this latter kind are fometimcs met 
with in Mines \ where too large a proportion of 
mercurial, corroUve, ialine, arfenical matter or 
vapour, coming upon and adhering to the truly 
metallic parts of the Ores, efpccially thofc of 
the imperfeft Metals •, the parts of fuch Ores 
are thereby turned fometimes into running Mer- 
cury, fometimes into Cobalt, Arfenic, Tutty, 
Caamia^ and fometimes into common Sulphur. 
And if in fuch a cafe, the Mercury, thus dif- 
folving and over-powering the metallic parts 
of thcfe Ores, be fuppofed to become the true 
Mercuries of bodies y and to contain a quantity of . 
the real metallic Earth ; fo as fometimes to be 
nothing but Gold over-power'd and render'd 
'fluid by too great a proportion of MercHry^ 
we have little to objeft to fuch a Suppofition : 
cfpecially if we confider, that it feems coun- 
tenanced by the increafed fpiflitude and Aug- 
gilhnefs pr thefe Mercuries, their greater fpe- 
cific gravity in comparifon of common Mer- 
cury, and the golden Spot they leave behind, 
t^n evaporated upon a filver-plate. 

26. The Contents of a metallic Vein arc thus 
frequently perverted at the time that a fu^ 
raneal heat comes upon them •, when if th^ 
be fuperficial, the whole mafs of metalli< 
tcr 23 corrupted and thrown off mto tb 



kf Malkahle Earths or Metah. -^ a 

\ v^hcnce the remaining Veins are afterwar dlt ibund > 
' to be nodiii^ buc an imperfefb Matrix, Coin 
uioing a rufty^ redEarthi Tdce the JLi/yi Hema* 
titeSi that runs therein after the manner of an Oit 
ifldccd, but yields no Metal v whence fuch a 
matter is by the workmen called dead Metd, 
This Evaporation becomes fometimes fen* 
fible, though without flame, or any manifeft ' 
odour -, but may be diftuiguilh^d from far, ' 
efpecially in a dewy morning, by the undula- 
tion and fludluation it oCcafions in the Air, 
over the whole tra£t: from which k rifes. And 
if after fuch a phsenomenon the Vein \m found 
ttnpty of Metal, the workmen in their Ian- 
. guage fay the Storm has carried it away. But 
at other times fuch an exhalation is attended 
with a violent Flame, and the fmell of burning 
Sulphur reaching to the diftance of a mile or 
more ; whence all the adjacent Grals, and other 
Vegetables, are burnt up, and the workmen 
fometimcsfcorchM or fuffbcatcd in the Mines. 

a;. But farther, if the Rock, Stones, or 
other mineral nutters, dug up in the Mincs^ dr 
if the ftamped Slag, or powdered Scoria gained 
in the melting of the Metal, be ftrcw*d upon 
the traft of a Vein, they have after many years 
lyii%, been found impregnated with a metallic 
matter ; probably bccairfe they afforded a com- 
modious matrix for the mineral fumes or ex- 
halations, which every where breathe oift along 
the traft they were laid on. 

28. If this indantaneous Generation of Metals Aw> 
couM once be well eftabU(hM, it wouM giveK 
great countenance to the aftion of die philofo-^*^ 
Phu:al TtnUure or Subftance in the bufinefi of ffi 
1 ranfm^ution y for the real exiftcuce and truth gjjk 



3 Malleabk Eartht or Metal5,Ym^l 

whereof tKerc are fuch a Cloud of Inftanccs, 
that 'tis vei-y hard to (land out againd them. 

There arc many who fufpend their affent, up. 
on account of the difficulty they find to con- 
ceive, by what probable or poffible aftivity of 
the matter it (hould be able to change theitn- 
. perfed into the perfeft Metals? but authon 
of the.beft credit have already rcmoyed (Ws 
difficulty^by unanimoiifly declaring that earthy. 
Scdria leparate and fall off frofti the imperfeft 
. Metals in the a6t of tratnfmutatiori* . 

But others find the like difficulty in this cafe 
alfo, as fuppofing a pofitive aftivity required 
to effeA the feparation \ and demand how the 
matter comes fo fuddenly to (have off thofe 
Scoriae, feparate the heterogeneous parts, and 
thus, as they imagine, concofb the latent undi- 
gcftcd Gold, which hitherto lay concealed in 
the Metal, and ripen it into perfedtion. 

The moft probable opinion feems to be this, 
that the TxnRur^e has neither any contad with, 
nor bears any primary refpeft to thefe hetero- 
geneous parts, but affefts them only privatively, 
fecondanly, and remotely, whilft it compleats 
and perfefts the found, metallic, tho incom- 
. pleat part of the imperfeft Metal, into Gold. 
For as no fuch heterogeneous parts can per- 
manently enter and remain tenacioufly mix'd 
with perfeft, natural Gold •, fo likewife when 
this incompleac metallic part is perfefted into 
.Gold, the heterogeneous matters which before 
'adhered to the incompleat metal, feparatefrom 
the complcat one, float a-top, and will no 
'- longer remain mix*d therewith. 

,. 29. So likewife, if in the Mines, a Vein of 
imperfeft Metal (hould pafs the bounds of I 
feftion, this cou'd not be attributed to the fe 



I.4.. MalleahU Earths or Metals. - 253 

ratioii of the heterogeneous * parts by means of a 
ong digeftion} but rather to a fupervention of 
bmc genuine metallic part j which may happen 
It any time by accident, or otherwife. 

And to this it feems owing that the Veins of 
almofl: all the Metals contain at leaft fome fmall 
portion of Gold and Silver i viz. according as 
the vapour of that principle which is moft 
deficient in the imperfeSl Metals, comes in its 
wandring motion to adhere to their Ores, and ' 
fo form here and there a particle or two of the 
prfeSt. 

It muft however be obferv*d, that one kind 
of heterogeneous bodies either hinders the com- 
pletion of Metals more than another, or ob- 
jures them when they are compleat. An Ex- 
ample to which purpofe we have in the Gold- 
ore that is intermixed with martial Flints ; 
where a dry, ftyptic, powdry Earth, preven- 
ting the fufion, detains the fine, fingle parti- 
cles of the perfeft metal, feparates and wears 
them afunaer when they wou*d aggregate, 
and fo prevents the ore from yielding its true 
quantity of pure metal by fufion ; or all that 
it is by Ac^uafortis found to contain. 

Nor does it perhaps appear lefs ftrange that 
fome Ores which are mix'd with Sulphur, Ar- 
fenic, and the like rapacious bodies, fhould af- 
ford a lefs quantity of pure Metal, whenthefe 
volatile fubftances are firft driven from them • 
by Calcination with a naked Fire in the open 
Air •, than when they are either totally, or 
very confiderably detained by corrofive Alka- 
lies, Quick-lime, Glafs, fsfr. For it is ma- 
nifcft that fuch Subllances are not found to 
touch the Subftance of perfeft Gold brought 
into a. body, much lefs to raife up, or carry 
off any part thereof. The truth of the cafe ap- 



354 Malleable Earths or Metals. P^ Q; 

. petn fo be thb, that tlipfc rapacious Minerafa 
do jsot in the open calcination fo much af^ft, 
. .or cany off the whole indivWwum or com, 
pleat atoim of the Gold* as fome one or ochei 
conftitucnt: part of fuch atoms; whcdier'a 
h^ mcrcufialt i;hat called fiilphureoust or tar* 
thy. 

93»F<Ni«. 3^* -Art has two principal wavs of proceeding 
jimtumrftu\xi the Generation of the perfcft Metals; one 
^?f!i'ii^ whereof is foim the imitation of nature i 

^iw Mt* and the other upon a very different principle : Tb 
' ' firft being performed, as it were by inftantanmi 
Cmbinaim% but the other by nJJimUatori U 
gfftion or Fermentation. 

T^e Method by infidnianeous Combinatm i 
of two kinds ; as well in regard of the Sub 
ftances employ 'd* as of the means diat ar( 
vfed ; the one depending upon Precifitatm 
and the other upon CementatiQih 

Mjpnttpi- 31. Among the Experiments of the firft kind 
tmthm. tbofe principally deferve to be remarked mrhid 
are commoiily handed about under the (itlc of thi 
JPrecipitation of Silver into Cold \ ail of them dc 
pending upon this general Foundation. A So 
ludon of Silver bemg made with Jqua fortn 
they miac another coloured Solution with itt wbici 
the niorie attenuated and volatile it is, the betw* 
for it receives its colour not from any alteratioi 
of its own, but from a real metallic Subftauce 
This latter Solution, commonly confifting of ^ 
qua regta or fome other liquor of that kind, & 
the Menftruum, wJbich takes in Sal-ammoniac 
common Salt, but to better purpofe Spirit c 
Salt, efpccially along with Butter of Aotimon) 
precipitates the Silver out of its SoMition, ^^^ 



jgpy^ifPW l 11, 1 I I I lu i u ijUJWi i i 1 .1 Mii.Mi|i.. iii JJ! i . i iM i pi, i |i B l i p i .iLl i « i .l i i. l. i 



14* Mallealie Earths or Metals A 

the common preparation of Luna Cornea. But 
here we are co obferve that the particles of the 
metallic Sulphur, fupjpofed to be containMn 
the fecond Solution, leverally intermiic them^ 
felves among the exceeding imall parts of the 
Silver % from whence, if any way, an accretion 
per minifM is to be expe£ted : provided both the 
folvent Liquors are hrft exceedii^lv well atte- 
nuated and made homogeneal \ and tne Solution 
icfelfbenotfuperficial, but rendei^d intimate and 
fubcile by long digeftions and repeated extra£Uons; 
wherebv the heterogeneous parts of the SolventSy 
efpeciafly with the alfiftance of Spirit of Wine,^ 
are at the fame time excluded, and the diflblvei 
bodies very highly fubtilized. 

But how to procure this fix'd, tingbg or 
accreting Sulphur is the difficulty. The Sear- 
ches after it have been very differently direc- 
ted \ but the major part have Ibi^ht for it in 
Copper and Iron \ whence that common Say* 
ing among the fpagirical People, 

^1 non lahorat in Ventre 6? Marte^ efi StuU 

tusinArte. 
i. e. He knows nothing of the matter who 

does not work upon Cofper and Iron. 

3 1 . But as to the real manner of extrafling this 
fix*d Sulphur, there are feveral difficulties arife ; 
which arc mentioned at large by Becber in^ his AC- 
nera Arentiria^. For as both thefe Metah con- 
tain a deal of heterogeneous Earth, whence they 
foon turn to Scoria \ as this eanhy matter tena- 
cloufly adheres both to the fulphureous and the 
mercurial parts of the metal \ and as befides *tis 

alfo 



^ Sec JMiocr. Arjoar, M|i!t5A»?txsci^*«*«. t •^'I'^^V 



6 MalleaMe Eafths or Metals. Vzxtll 

alio fo]uble in corrofive liquors } it commonly 
happens that the Menftruums which would other- 
wife difTolve the fulphureous part, at the fame 
time diffolve this heterogeneous E^rth adhering 
thereto \ and by this means extraA a Subftance 
which fometimes accretes to Gold, but then ren- 
'ders it brittle ; and fometimes Icfaving the Gold 
ftill duftile^ will not amalgamate with Mercury, 
but is by gentle digeftion thrown up to the fur- 
face thereof in form of a red powder *. 

There are two ways ot avoiding this incon- 
venience 5 the firft depends (i) upon extraft. 
Jng the fix'd Sulphur with a Subjeft that will 
not at all unite to the earthy part *, fuch as 
Antimony for example. For as there is danger 
in other methods, of extrafting the fubtile eir- 
thy part along with the Sulphur from the crude 
bodies of Copper and Iron, this danger is pre- 
vented in the prefent cafe; becaufe nothing 
but this purer fulphureous part will fmk into 
^ the Regulus of Anlimony, Whence that prq- 
cefs oiBecher comes here to be confider'd, 
which he thus delivers in ftiort f . ** Let the 
** Martial Regulus, with Copper, be extrafted 
•• by a Menftruum made of Aqua for tis and 
•* Vinegar mixM together, and drawn over 
«* from common decrepitatedSalf, feparatctbc 
** Menftruum, and let the remaining green ex- 
*• trafted matter be edulcorated, and cemented 
" with the Calx of Silver ; then fix it by the 
** abftraftions of Aquafortis ; after which bc- 
• * ing edulcorated and melted with Gold, 'twill 
** yield an increafe.** 

The Succefs might here be the greater if the 
procefs were condufted after the manner m^'' 

ti( 

* SceBechcr, Miner, Aien^.i^.^VQ^^)! 
' 'f Concord. Cbym. p.iki^.>V\3. 



j,4. Malleable Earths or MetaU. 

tjonM in another place*} where the Senft 
ought to be contocd thus. <« Afterwards 
«« pour off the green Liquor, diftil it a little, 
«( with an equal we^htof Mercury-Sublimate \ 
a coagulate it into a green Stone s run it in a 
« ailar, 6?r/* ^ ^ 

The fecond mcthcd has nt> very cofrcfiv^ 
matter lor its bafis, but either fucn ah one as 
above-mentton'd, and that often propofed b3r 
JS^ri^T for this purpofef, as made ot diftill'di 
Vinegar, Alum, and Sal-ammoniac in the hu-' 
mid way \ or elfe Sal-ammoniac itfelf fub- 
limed from the fulphurated Crocus of Iron or 
Copper \ which according to Figani || was u* 
fed by Mr. Boyle^ and (lands recommended by 
Becher |||| under the name of Helmbnt^ fecrec 
Fireof^^;i»i* 

33. There is alfo another way of Extrafting n 
this metallic Sulphur by the means of Mercury, f 
according to the diredtion of Becher % \ where he c!ji 
rUs us to take fuch Subjefts as plentifully con- ^^ 
tain the Golden Sulphur, and by means or other 
bodies to make them fit for amalgamation ; 
then mixing them along with a quantity of 
Mercury, and digefHng them together, thus to 
feparate the grofTer heten^eneous parts of thofe 
bodies \ whilll their more valuable part is intro- 
duced into the Mercury : tho c\^en the tcrreflrial 
^^!ccs thrown off in the firll preparation may de- 
fray the cxpcncc of the whole. We have a prac- 
tol Explanation of this proccfs in Digiys Chy- 
mical Experiments, under the Title ot J LaUur 
^4b the Mar rial Rf^Ins oi^Jrjimtxy ** ; bi;! this 

T TW. pi^. 5-oi NO, iS. |. XksiuL Chra. pig. j". 
H Rose:. 0:%in, £3L|«rssn.i4-^^^- 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. 

only regards the firft part of the Operation ; the 
latter part whereof may be found in Becher^s Ro. 
fetum Cbymicum^ under that procefs which he has 
for the leparation of Silver^ rich in Gold, from 
the compound Regulus of Antimony^ by the 
diftill^tion of it into a Butter. For by this means 
; the martial Sulphur is incorporated in the Regu- 
lus I which being now mix*d with Silver and a^ 
malgamated with Mercury, after the manner for- 
merly mentibn'd * for the animation of Mercury, 
the Mercury not only thus comes to feparate chat 
very fubtile Gold or golden, Sulphur trom other 
heterogeneous matters, but alfo combines it with 
itfelf, and fo carries it over in a mercurial form. 
To promote which end, a long continued digef- 
: tion is of very great fervice. 

The Scoriae arlling from the Salts, if any were 
ufed, in this preparation of the Regulus, beinge- 
dulcorated, reverberated, ftratified with plates 
cf Silver, caemented in a clofe veflel, and laftly 
melted -, or being at times' thrown into Silver 
whilft it remains in fufion with the fix'd Glafs 
cf Antimony ; and in both cafes the fufion being 
continued for feveral hours fucceflively ; fo much 
Gold will by the Silver be collected out of the 
Martial Scoriae, as may abundantly defray all 
the charge ot the Operation. 

34. The Introduftion of the metalline fulphu- 

1^ reous Subftance into another metallic body, that 

Bo' wants this principle, depending upon Mixture, 

by which alone bodies can unite per minima ; it 

may be effcdled two dilFei ent ways. 

(i) The fulphureous Subftance being once 
extracted, may by degrees be thrown into mel- 
ted Silver,whilft it is kept in very thin fufion 5 h" 
which means as the powder firlt fludqatcs up 



ro- 



♦ Sec Fafp II. §.3.1^.3(5, 



^ Malleable Earths or Metals. 2 (^ 

the furf act of die Silver* now agitated m its 
ibialkft particlesy fbme portioQ erf" it cafily ad- 
heres to each (rf'tbem, and tenadoofly accretes 
dicrewith, efpedally if any adual Gold be al« 
ready mjx*d with the Silver* Tho* it muft be 
allowed that this fulphureous Subftance being 
as yet volatile and exceedii^y fubtile, a large . 
part thereof muft needs be confumed and feat* 
ter^d abroad by the btenle agitation of the 
Fire ; fb that cxily a fmall portion of it comes 
to accrete with the Silver. But the lofs is in 
ibme degree prevented by the addidon of a 
proper kind of Glais, which by its vifcofity con* 
fiderably defends thb fine Subfknce from the 
adion of the Fire ; but then the fufion muft 
be continued for fevcral hours fucccffively. The 
more fix'd Regulus of Antimony b a ftiU bet-* 
ter addition in this cafe ; as not only thinly di- 
luting the fulphureous Subftance, introducing 
it into the Silver, and grinding it therewith ) 
but likewife upon evaporating flowly itfelf, 
it leaves the greater part of the fulphureous 
matter behind it, in the body of Silver, which 
would otherwife float upon thefurface thereof* 
(2) This Mixture is alfo effefted by the 
means of Menftruums. Thus the extracted 
matter, whilft it remains fubtily diflblved in its 
Mcnftruum, may, as we lately obfcrv'd, be 
poured to a Solution of Silver ; whereby the 
Silver now diflblv'd into its fmalleft particles, 
is by the faline nature of the other Solvent, pre- 
cipitated, along with fome portion of the cx- 
tradted particles accreted thereto. Or this Ex- 
traftion may otherwife be drawn off from the 
Calx of Silver \ by wluch means the menftru- 
um tomes over pure, and leaves all the fingle 
diffol/d particles combined with all thofe, or 
^wz-jy aii chofc of the S\Wcr* Or \J \Vv^ ^txv- 



> Malleable Earths or Metals. Partll. 

« » 

ftruum is not 49%"^*^ ^^ be prcfervM, the Calx 
of Silver may be di'reftly moiftenM with the 
Extraftioh^ then dry'd again ; and this being 
repeated for a number of times fucceffivciy, at 
lafl: the compound Calx may be mixed with 
Borax, and thrown into the Silver whilftipftj. 
f5fon. The like Extradion might otherwife be 
mixM with a Solution of Leadv whereby* a 
large portion of this fulphureous Subftatice 
wouM concrete with the Cerufe^ andfubfide 
along with it. Or laftly, the Extraftion 
might, efpecially if made with Aqiia regia\ be 
drawn off from Mercury-Sublimate i and the 
remaining compound Precipitate, as it were, 
be projefted in the (lime manner upon mekd 
Silver. 

Among the various Operations of this kind 
thofe deferve to be principally recommended 
which are performed agreeable to the Experi- 
ments propofed by Becker * under thefe Titles. 
( I ) How to advance ibeperfe£l Metals to a grea- 
ter degree of Perfection. (2) A Procefs found to 
anfwery from Glauber. 

MET ALS IN PARTICULAR. 

'»/- 35* The twoperfeft Metals, and the four im- 
"Me- perfed ones are deftinM to various Ufes and Prc- 
fela- parations, both tor the fervice of Chemiftry and 
i5>o« Natural Philofophy ; and this either as they are 
Ore. found generated in the Earth, or as they are drawn 
out, melted, and refined by metallurgical Ope- 
rations. 

The firft Clafs of Operations belonging to 
them, is therefore thofe wlicreby the ^ 
tali arc feparated and purged from their 



Roicc. ChymicN?.. kft,!^. 



54* Malleable Earths or Metals, 

4 

thy and all other heterogeneous. SMbftances. 
And this comprehends the whole bufineis of 
Metallurgy ; which depends upon Calcination» 
Ablution 9 Fufion, Cufxllation, Separation 
by the DcMrt, by Antimony,, by Mercury* 
Fixation, DiftillatK)n» C^c. • 

36. MetalS' are either found infcdted in the 75 
Mine by the heterogeneous admixture of fome ra- ^ 
pacious Minerals i or feparately interfpcrs'd here 
and there in naked Stones or Flints : but out of 
the Mine, both forts arc ufually thrown together, 
and mixM among one another. 

Thefe rapacious heterogeneous mineral Sub- 
ftances are principally Arfentc^ Sulphur^ and 
Acid Salt ; the Stones are either foft and ear- 
thy, or fuch as will eafily vitrify and run thin 
in the Furnace ; or otherwife exceedingly hard 
and flinty, fo as to be difficult both to grind 
and melt. 

The rapacious volatile heterogeneous Sub- 
ftances are previoufly feparated or correfted \ 
but the ftony and flinty matters only fcledted 
pure from what of them is fuperfluous, and 
rendered foft refpedkivcly. 

37, The Metallic Ore therefore being dug up a 
along with its Rock ; and this broke into IcflTer 'T 
Fragments, 'tis beat fine in the Stamping-Mills, 
and the Powder wafliM with a fufficient quantity 
of Water from the fuperfluous Earth -, whilft the 
heavier and more metallic matter fubfides in the 
form of Slud \ which when dry*d is carried to the 
melting-Furnace. 

The like Method isalfo taken with fuch Mud 
or Sand as abounds in Gold ; whence Gold- 
Sand or Gold-Slud is procured. 

S 5 ^^.^ja 



Malleable Earths or Met ah » Part II, 

38. But when the Ore lies interfpers'd up and 
down among the body of the Flint ; in oraer to 
its (lamping, fo as to prevent the little metallic 
corpufcles difpers'd therein, from being too 
much ground by fo hard a body, it muft firft be 
' foftenM by Calcination and Extinftion in Water : 
by which means a double advantage is fecuredj 
the body of the Flint being thus not only inti- 
mately broken to pieces, but the metallic partis 
cles that were fcatter*d about therein, are mel- 
ted by the intenfe heat, and thence collefted into 
larger grains, fo as to be much lefs broken and 
divided under the Stampers. For too great a com- 
minution of thefe metallic corjH^fcles is to be ve-, 
ry carefully avoided, left they (hould thence 
come to rife in the Water upon Walhing, and fo 
run away and be loft a4ong with the lighter 
Mud. 

• The metallic Matter or Ore thus wafli'd, 
or the crude Ore itfelf, if rich in Metal, is ei- 
ther melted with certain additions or without 
them. 

ay'd 39. When the Matter is brought to this State, 
in order to have a Specimen of the Metal it con- 
tains, and to know what kind of heterogeneous 
parts it abounds with, 'tis ufual to make a fmall 
trial or proof thereof, in the way of y^Jf. 
Which Method by the AJfa'^ being perform^ in 
fmall quantities with the fame Subjeft, Objeft, 
and Inftruments as the larger Fufion, whereto 
the Affa^ ought conftantly to apfwer ; we fhall 
content ourfelves, asChemifts, here to deliver the 
manner of working in little \ yet with due re- 
gard to the fundamental Circumftances occurri 
in the large Work: recommending it to cv 
ones farther obfervation ahd confideration> 





§,4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 263 

thcr to lc*rn the common, or to invent other 
ufeful Machines, for the ftill more commodious 
working of large quantities at once. 

40. But before we proceed to the Operation nrOiw^ 
itfelf, whereby the metal is fepar^ted pure from^^^J*J. 
its adhering (tony or other heterogeneous parts, aiiy *«A 
we muft a little farther confider the nature of j;^^;^^^ 
thofe heterogeneous matters, which, as volatile 
and corrofive Minerals, do cleave to Metals, 
Thcfe are chiefly Arfenic, common Sulphur, 
Cadmia, Tutty, Pompholyx, and fometimes 
a corrofive Acid which turns Metals into Vi- 
triols. 

From an Intimate concretion of an Arfenical 
Sulphur with a metallic Mineral, proceed Mar- 
cafiies having the appearance of Metal ; but 
confiding of much volatile^ and the reft a fixM 
matter that will not melt in the Fire, but goes 
into a kind of dufty Afhes. 

All thefe kinds of bodies are to be fcparated 
from the true metallic parts before fufion ; and 
this is efFeded, when fuch bodies are volatile, 
by calcination or reverberation : whence the 
volatile part comes by the aftipn of the Fire, 
or by xiireft ignition, to be driven otFfrom the 
Ore, that is fometimes ftamp*d fine, and fome- 
times left coarfe for this purpofe. But if this 
volatile part be very plentifully lodg'd in the ^ 
Ore-, there are certain contrivances of Hoods 
or Arches, made to coUedt and receive itj 
whence the Arfenic and whence tht* Suljfbur 
Chambers, 

But the acid, faline matter is got out of the 

Ores fometimes by boiling and fteeping them 

in alkaline Lixiviums; and fometimes by mix- 

. ing Lime along with them: but 'tis more eafi- 

ly dcftroyM by adding a proper quantity of 

S 4 the 

3 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. 

the more ignoble bodies^which imbibe this acid 
in the Flux. • 

^ 41. Thefe kinds of matters, particularly the 
w^ulphureous, arfenical, and acid parts, muftbe- 
"• fore fufion be carefully feparated from the Ore 
*' 'for the following reafons, (i) Becaufe common 
Sulphur, when niix^d with any Metals, except 
Gold, and committed toa ftrong Fire of fufion, 
tho* of itfelf it be very volatile, yet now adheres fo 
firmly to them, as npt to be got from them again, 
unlefs the fufion be continued ftrong for fomedays 
fuccefiively. Nay, and fometimes when this me- 
thod has been ufed, it has ftill left the Metal 
brittle, or during fuch a fufion carried off fomc 
part thereof, efpecially in the imperfcdt Metals, a- 
long with itfelf into the Air-, whence the remaining 
mafs in great part comes to vitrify •, or at beft 
here is a very confiderable and needlefs lofs both 
of time and fire. (2) Becaufe Arfenic^ tho' it e- 
vaporates fooner than Sulphur from Metals in fu- 
fion, yet renders Copper friable and Silver vola* 
tile : an inftance of the firfl: kind we have in the 
blanching of Copper, and of the fecpnd in the 
Preparation of Luna cornea. (3) Becaufe when 
an Acid adheres to Metals, it not only requires 
a very long time before it can be driven away by 
the Fire ; as we find in Vitriol, and the fulphura- 
ted Croais of Iron or Copper ; but fome part 
thereof will ftill moft tenacioufly adhere to the 
Metal, and not fuflfer it to flux uniformly, but 
caufes a dufty Scoria to float upon the reft of 
the mafs, 

42. The three Subftanccs above-mentionM 
have no power upon Gold indeed ; but Marca 
JTnes have •, and fo far as to carry it oflfj if they ha 
pen, thro? any error in the place, to be' 
rn;)gkd ^t mix'd along with its fin'' 



^/^ Malleable Earths or Metals. 

in the Mine ; or d(c they form a crafty Scoria 
that not ranning chin, everv where fuftains and 
entaf^les tlvc corpufdes of the Gold, and keeps 
rhetn from falling and colle£ling together at the 
bottom of the veffel. 

Antimony, Bifmuth, and Zink likewife im- 
bibe all the Metals, except Gold, and malw 
them brittle, Thefe incompleat Metals arc 
cafilyi at once, and in large quantities, run 
from their Stone or Ore by Fufion. Their 
preparatory Calcination alfo, or the Separa-r 
tion of their volatile parts, when requifite, is 
attended with but little difficulty ; a^ being 
effefted barely by throwing large heaps of the 
grofs mineral upon a calcining Furnace, and 
keeping it ignited by a flaming Fire below ; 
which thus drives out the volatile arfenical 
Subftance in fume a-top ; whilft the Sulphur, 
if here largely containM,falls thro* the bars into 
the a(h-pit. But Antimony, when copioufly 
lodgM in its Oj-e, is feparated from it by diftil- 
latioa per defiefijum \ or if mere fparingly con- 
tuinM therein, by fome particular or fpecific ad- 
iiitions which abforb it in the Flux« 

iEPARATORl^ METALLIC 
FUSION, 

43* After the heterogeneous pans hive chusjwa 
b«a Lhro>^*n off froni the proper E&^ib ef the Ori^ J2 
^!^ r^rt metal now renuins ro be jepirated fTx>m fa/ 
ci harth by tulion, 

B^t thcne'an? r^o c fiodd^. it le^ft ooe oro- 
^'* cc :Scn\ alw,:y^ ivxs-jo h rris i.£air. For i) 
*-^-i^ WW mbrra] Firrx bow -^.^rihie jco-er it 



Malleable Earths or Metals, Part II. 

very intenfe indeed : but 'cis plain chat if this 
Subflance remains vifcous^ the moleculse of the 
Metal cannot fink thro* it, in order to form a 
metalline mals at the bottom. (2.) Sometimes 
only a very fmall quantity of pure Metal lies 
concealed in a vaft bcKly of fuch adhering Earth, 
or wrapped up with the matters of other Metals; 
whence one of thefe two Inconveniences muft 
arife, viz. either that the fmall quantity of Me- 
tal cannot well, under fo great a load of recre- 
ment, come into a little mafs •, or elfe if it cou'd, 
it muft of neceflity be fo violently agitated and 
tofled about by the ftrong fire required to keep 
fo large a bulk of Slag in fufion, as in the ebul- 
lition to be again involved, as it were, in little 
drops or babbles among the pappy mafs of the 
Scoria. 

Thefe two inconij^eniences have their two re- 
medies, (i.) The firft is to add fuch Sub- 
ftances as promote vitrification, and at the 
fame time caufe a thin flux of the vitrified body. 
Such Subftances arc for the large work. Sand, 
fluxile Mud, alkaline Salts, Tartar, Nitre, 
fc?f . and for the f7nal/^ Glafs of Lead, a little 
Borax, or any compound Flux-falt j thebafis 
whereof are commonly Tartar and Nitre. 
(2.) The fecond is to add Metal itfelf : This 
is a common way, and feems greatly improve- 
able, if it can oe brought to anfwer the ex- 
pence. In this cafe, as a greater mafs of me- 
tal cannot by the fame Fire befo much agita- 
ted and tofled about as a lefs, or if it cou'd be 
agitated as much, yet all its particles wou'd 
cohere more firmly in a large mafs than in a 
fmall one •, hence by fuch an addition "^ 
Metal the little mafs that wou'd otherwi 
with difficulty coUefted from the fcveral fi 
pariidcs of the melted matter, is artifi 



^ H^BoMeEsrdkmBiiadL j&j 







^ Tie Vkeol v£aBtf cnpkM'dQi L 

fegaoBai&che fleet SSicr mis 9nd, 
jit perfis^ Mecib air c^eclsdL Fc 
' Kn afe iio0 MC ad|r 
he ami Flux; boc aMb bf x %cdfic 
; jacG& be knc^ro bat bf'cml, cdBoSsi 
^ avtna dse fiae ponmritti aPMHof diegirtanir 
pcnd^ lfaatairkd|gfdittaaiTrnrrihgtefade 
jbtzi^ remoce from cocaoodicr, lip aaddomit 
Dcorty aatia&a^UjicdDccs lIlanIDpexfe&me- 
:iL Upon which Propcftjr of SSrer k b dot 
kdffr )m built fa» ACKrf jtreman^ S.imim\wi^ 
(it ig^M^itU AirtM €£ cxmkBdD^tbc^aS^ 
)4tuk outof &uid ; where, b^ nfing Silfcr b- 
ibki cf Lead, be nmViTakri to produce a m 

mtt asduiluieriiiediod<2Uionly crpriod- 
foUy be ukd to profit io die SqaracioD of 
Gold from its ore bjr fufion ; ib LcadicmaiK 
a ftrjr comrciiiem addition for die ReccpdoD of 
SSver, as performii^ a double ufe ia die 
cferation ; viz. by imbibii^ the Metal pure, 
md at the fame time promodng the vionfica* 
(ion of die earth mixM akx^ widitheSilvcr. 

Copper being in it felf of difficult fufion, 
m)uirafuch a fire as is able to melt its gla^ 
Scoria fufficiently thin at the fame time that it 
itmtlced it felf; and this it docs unkfs the 
yya^t$ fbou^d prove very obftinaxc indeed. 



8 Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. 

Hence bare fufion fometimes without any 
other aflaftancc will bring out this Me- 
tal from its Ore, and throw it down into 
a mafs v the Scoria here flowing fo thin 
as readily to fufier the metalline particles 
to fink thro* it. But when the Ore is more 
ftubborn, its Separation may be promoted by 
metalline or other additions, as above men* 
tion*d. 

In fhort, the difficulty of thus feparating the 
Metal from its proper Earth is principally found 
in the Ores of Silver, Gold and Copper ; but 
Lead and Tin, being very fufible bodies, are 
much*eafier melted from their adhering mi- 
neral marten 

to jk^ 45. But in order to the due Separation of 
t cms Metals from Metals, or of a confufed mix- 
riC^^" ture of Metals, fuch as are commonly calN 
Ele£trums^ or fuch as the Corinthian Brafs of old 
was fuppofed to be •, we muft obferve that Expe- 
rience has taught us a certain effed of Lead, 
which cou'd not well be conceived a priori : viz, 
that by fufion upon the Cupel it refolvesallthe 
; imperfeA Metals, without exception, into their 
! fmalleft atoms, and partly throws theni up to its 
furface in form of a half vitrified powdry Sub- 
ftance, in part finks along with them into the 
I Cupel, and in part converts them into Glafs-, fo 
as to leave nothing behind but pure Gold and 
Silver. 
Caution 46. And here the bufinefswe areentring upon 
irejin rcquircs US to obferve that great care muft be had, 
ffioS! both in the fmaller and larger Work, with re- 
fpt£t to the ajfay by. Cupellation. 'Tis incun^ 
on the aflay-mafter foUicitoufly ^^ ^"^^ 
Jeaft difllpation or lofs of his 
t/ie r^ and Cftfw/ i Vv^td^vAV 

/ ■ ■ 



^ Malleable Earths or Metals. \ 

iocodion thereof into theLead^and a fufHcient de- 
gree of fluiditj^ to the Scoria. The greater accura* 
cy is required in all thefe refpedb, becaufe the mat* 
ter is.. examined by the pr(^)ortion it bears to 
ailky-weights, which being exceeding fmall, the 
greateft caution IhouMbe ufed to prevent a lo& 
upon the aflay in the produce of the pure metal \ 
for thus the owners, Specially in the cafe of GoId» 
might come to be greatly injured in the lai^e 
Weight, if the Smelter, mifguided by the report 
of the affay-mafter, either negle&s to procure 
the full yield of the Ore, or'fecretes the over- 
plus. And thus likewife the Dealers in Silver 
Ore might come to be great Sufferers* 

47. In the bufinefs of allaying there are feve- A/i 
nl Injiruments employed; the principal whereof^ 
are thefe ; viz. A Furnace^ with all that belongs ^< 
toit ; a Muffle^ a Tefi^ anda Cuj>cL ^ 

The principal Oterations are IncoHion^ or • 
the introduftion or the Matter into boiling 
Lead, when the Ore proves of caiy fufion ; 
reverbnatory Calcination^ or Torre&6tion» 
when it is ftubbom \ and laftly, die Ad of 
Fiilminaiiony or procuring a Sjucndor to the 
Metal, whether Gold» Sil\Tr or Copper. 

The Icfi principal arc tr.yhixg^ to get out 
the metalline Slud, when the Ore has but little 
Metal, fprinklcd up and down, in it ^ Sczrifica- 
/!•«, or the due procnriig a Slag 5 J^SJihe^ 
with a Spatula, to looien the matttr thxn the 
fiJcs, and fccure a good mkr*;:? ; 1 cSiient 
ms^j^ff^xi cf ;.v /:v at diffotx: tis«s of 
the Operation i aivi lail!\\ a ^^Je NLood of 
uicmatcly >>; » j :t^ C*av:, by cxxlaun. 

^ K> iollickouily ftganfcvi xs s cxroc^rur rrr^ * 
^^'^i if tJ>e pcrtorou«?t: ct ^ \>35isic^ ":*:: 



•o Malkahle Earths or Metals. Part II. 

the only thing in view. A deal of needlefs cfc. 
coration indeed, no way eflcntia] to an Aflay-Fur* 
nacc has been ufually bcftowM upon it. The 
Foundation of the whole Strufturc confifts 
only in this, that a charcoal Fire may by the 
gentle afflux of the Air be raifed to luch a dc. 
gree, as to keep a little mai^ of Silver in fufionj 
and that this degree may occafionally be more 
or lefs fupprefeM by regulating the current of the 
Air. 

A pyramidal, angular or cylindrical figure 
of the Furnace, an Afti-pit or Avenue for the 
Air below the Coals, furnilh'd with a move- 
able door; Air-holes leading to the Coals; 
and a Cover a-top fitted to the upper aperture 
of the Furnace, in order to reverberate or 
ftrongly fupprefs the Flame, will compleatly 
anfwcr thefe intentions. 

Muffle. 49. Such a particular regulation of the Flame 
IS required from the arched Structure of the Muf- 
fie \ which therefore ought not to be too higher 
wide, left the fupport of the flame or flaming 
Air, fliou'd require an immoderate propoition of 
coals and draught. Its height therefore may be 
about four inches, and its length and breadth pro- 
portioned to the infide of the Furnace ; fo that 
its body may lie at the diftance of two inches 
from both the fide-walls,, as well as the bad- 
wall, whilft its mouth is contiguous to the front- 
wall of the door- place. 

This Inftrument is made of earth that will 
endure the fire, and is a kind of longitudinal 
Seftion of a Cylinder, fcooped into an Arch ; 
at the bottom of whofe fides and hind-part arc 
cut t\yo or three holes or flits, in order that 
the heat may ru(h in thereat, and fo fluftuating 
as it wercm thecoucaw^^^^c^cS. ^^^'^^'^i 



i i f \ i .m.jg i^ywpwypp^ppww^wwr 



§4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

ly checked or reflcdled back in its rifing, or onlv 
plays upon the furface of the matter, the wort 
is ftarved. The proper degree of heat therefore 
being thus continued, the bulk of the littfe mafs 
of Metal will gradually diminifh ; till at length 
the greatcft part thereof coming to vanifti, the 
fumes ceafe to rife, and the remainder forms va- 
rious colours about the Cupel \ and thefe at laft 
exhibit the appearance of a Rain-bow : at which 
time almoft the whole mafs being vanilh'd, there 
is nothing but a little bright grain, or rigid drop 
of metal left behind \ which is cither Silver, or 
Silver mix'd with Gold. The Cwpel being now 
taken out of the Muffle, the metallic Grain is 
prefcntly, whilft it remains hot, to be nippM up 
with a fine pair of Forceps. But if through 
coldnefs, or otherwife, any little cruft fhou'd ftill, 
from the furface of the Cupel, adhere to it ; 
this is not to be ihaved off, left fome of the 
Metal fhou*d be loft at the fame time ; but be- 
ing wrapp'd up in a paper, let it be pinched with 
a flat pair of Forceps, which will make the cruft 
fall off, and render the Grain fit for examination 
by the balance, 

58. This manner of Proceedure islikewife ap- n 
plicabie to the refining of Gold and Silver \ or J'£ 
the fcparating of them from other Metals. But of 
the following exceptions are to be obferved of f^^ 
it-,m. (i.) Tha^in the large work, the famei:#* 
pipportion and matter of the Veflels and Furnace?^^^ 
will not fucceed \ but are to be ufed in' other 
circuniftances, though thefe have the fame efl^eft 
at the bottom. (2.) That by this Operation on- 
ly the imperfeft Metals are feparated firom the 
perfefti but not the two perfcdt from one an- 
other. (3.) That therefore the Ores of the im* • 
perfeft Metals cannot be examined by this me* 
rtojj but wouM rather be defoof <i \\\ftxe^>i, 
T 4 . ^^^^ 



MalkableEartbi or MetalslViixtll, 

And, (4.) That fomc fmall portion of Lead ftiH; 
in the large workt remains mix'd with the per- 
Te A Metals, after cupellation ; which Lead is fc- 
parated from them by burning •, whence the Sil- 
ver thus purified is at the Mines or Smelting. 
huts vulgarly called burnt Silver \ and the Ope- 
ration iclelf the burning of Silver. 

The foundation of this bufinefs refts 

principally upon two things \.viz. (i.) Upon 

ufing fo large a Fire, which at the fame time 

it keeps the Silver in fufion, burns out the Leadj 

partly reducing it to afhes, partly to fumes, 

and patsA^' to glafs. (2,) Upon the Blaftof a 

pair of Btliows, which throws off and diffipatcs 

the dufty Afhes of the I^ad. To theVe it 

may likewife be added, (:?.)That the Opera- 

■ tion is performed in a vcffel made of bone- 

afhes, by the workmen termM a "Tejl \ which 

i may abforb fome part of the Lead, 

tfibf 5p. *Tis a common Inquiry how it comes a- 

^"*' bout that the Lead Ihbuld be drank into this 

. i« ^ejt or vctTel of bone-aflies: and 'tis as common- 

^''^^ lyaniwer'd, thac the Lead flying away from too 

great a heat, hides itlllf in tne pores of the fpun- 

gy veflel. But this at belt is only affigning the 

caufe, or rather the efFcdl, and not explaining 

the manner of the thing. 

The moft probable Anfwer is, that the 
Lead being here greatly attenuated by the 
Fire, and rendered tiuid •, it finks into the Cu- 
pel almofl: like Water: and this fo much the 
cafier, as the pores of the veflel are the lar- 
ger. 

In the large Work, the whole quantity i 
Lead is not abforbed by th^ ^ ^ *^ut 
drove off in fume, fo 
pn the contiguous Sid 

3 



,.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. s 

and part of ic turns into Litharge \ that is, to- 
gether with the Aflies and Sand, proceeding 
from the Wood-fire, and the Stones of the Fur- 
nace, it hardens into a ftony or half glafiy con- 
fiftencc \ whilft the other part is imbibed by 
the bone-afh ^rs of the cupelling veflel. 

And as this large Veflel is not compofed, as 
the little Cupels are, of fine, wafliM and fifced, 
but of much groffer unelixated Afhes % the 
Lead that is thus imbibed thereby, commonly 
carries along with it fome particles of the Sil- 
ver \ which it retains after being purged from 
the heterogeneous parts of the Veflel, and a- 
gain melted into a mafs. Whence a hun- 
dred weight of fuch Lead, whicji • before held 
no Silver, is after this operation found to be 
rich therein ; tho* this principally happens 
thro' a negleft in preparing the veflel : whence 
that common Expreflion ; ^ Car clefs Refiner 
makes the Lead rich. 
And the like alfo happens both in the Cad- 
_mia or Litharge of the Furnace, and the Sco- 
riae above-mention*d : fo that; in the Confir- 
mation-Proof of the larger Work, we are not 
only to examine how much Silver remains af- 
ter Fulmination -, butlikewife how much there- 
of is diff'ufed about with tlie Lead. From 
hence it is, that in thefmelting of Silver from 
its Ore, they add fuch kind of fubftances as 
thus contain a fmall proportion of Silver^ viz. 
Hearth-Slag^ artificial Cadmia, ^c. But that 
Lead which ft ill remains impr^nated with Sil- 
ver, and cannot of itklfbc clearly feparated 
from the aflies of the ?V/?, is employed in the 
Smelting-huts dcfl:in'd to the feparation of 
Silver from Copper ; where being mixM along 
with Copper, it forms thofc Mafics they call 
^i^^ir crude Blub. 



Malleahk Earth or Metals. Part II. ^ 

i 60. We have feen in what manner Gold and 
« Silver are feparatcd from other Metals •, it re- 
^0- mains that we fhcw how to feparate them from 
one another. This is efFefted by ^ariatm in 
^^ the following manner. 

For the fmall Proof or Aflay they melt a lit- 
tle parcel of the eleftrical mafs with three or 
four times its own weight of Silver, then with 
a fmall hammer arid anvil bring it into a lit- 
tle thin plate, and put it into fuch a quantity of 
-pimfitd Jquafortis^ as mayferve to diflblveit. 
Upon this, the Menftruum takes up only the 
Silver, but lets the Gold fink to the bottom in 
form of a black powder -, which being edul- 
corated, .and gently ignited in a little veffel 
or fay-cup made for this purpofe, is afterwards 
weigh'd : and from the proportion hereof, is 
learnt what quantity. of Gold, and confe- 
qucntly what quantity of Silver, is contained 
in the eleftrical mals. 

The reafon of here adding three or four parts 
of Silver, is, that all the Gold contained in 
the Eleftrum may be every where mix'd, dif- 
fufed, and fpread abroad in the little mafs to 
be dilfolv'd, left it fhould otherwife as it were 
wrap up fome particles of the Silver, and fo 
defend them from the aftion oi iht Aqua fortish 
whence the proof wou'd be render d fallacious, 
and the weight of the gold-powder prove too 
large upon the ballance. For that Gold added 
to its own, or a greater weight of Silver, may 
keep a large part of it from being touch'd by 
Aquafortis^ appears from daily experience. 

•<'' 61. Lazarus Ercker^ from confidering thaf 
fcaiy ?«^ r^gt^ does not diflblve Silver, is of op 
^h, that Gold may be refined to the greateft 
"^^** fc6tion by being d\ffoW*d \v\ tl\vi Mf ' 



i4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

What led him to this opinion, was doubcl((s the 
common pcrfuafion, chat all the kinds ofjifiM 
fortis^ howfocvcr prepared, did ftill leave feme 
Sliver along with the Gold ; as Antimony on the 
other handy when ufed in the refining of Gk>]d» 
commonly fteals away, as they fuppofe, a final! 
quantity thereof. Ana as fomething of moment 
jcems to be concealed in this affair, it deferv^ to 
be carefully examin'd. 

The leading or fundamental Queftions of the 
Inquiry are thcfe. ( i .) Does tlie ylqua fortis in 
reality leave any Silver yet mix'd with the 
Gold? (2.) WouM it not prove top expen- 
five, thus to refine Gold with Aqua regia ? (3.) 
In what fenfe can Antimony be faid to ileal a- 
way Gold ? 

The firft Queftion is refolved in the affirnu- 
tivc, by Fafcbius*y in treating of the Sedi- 
ments of Depart-Waters i ' where he fays, 
that if Gold, by ^artation^ be mix'd with 
Silver, and again feparated from it by Aqua 
foriis^ it will conftantly be found to have in- 
creafcd its weight. Which increafe he at- 
tributes to the Silver adhering to the Gold : 
but it Hill remains for Experiment to decide 
whether this additional weight be truly owing 
to the Silver ; or whetlierit be an increafe of 
real GoKi And for this purpofe, what we 
have formerly faid of the Sulphur of Nitre +, 
ought to be rcmembtr'd here. 

With regard to the jWoK.i Queftion, *tis to 
l>e ob!br\*ed^ that fuch a method c^' refining 
CioUbc./f'<.; r^iij^ i^ fcarce practicable in the 
l'*Tv:c Work, on account c/ the great and uniie- 
ctiurv cha^^rci w-;ich wouM attend il Xor is 



*^"?«^' iii,&c/ 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Vsixtll 

fo rigorous a Proof of Gold at any time re- 
quired, as not to admit of the leaft particle of 
Silver, But in thefmall work, or the bufinefs 
of ajfaying^ it cannot be admitted for two Rea- 
fbns 5 viz. (i .) Becaufe fo much of the Gold is 
eafily diflipated by the Jqua regia^ or fo much 
of the fubftance of thisMenftruum remains fix'd 
to the Calx, even after ignition, as may caufe 
errors in both cafes. (2.) Becaufe Aqua regiay 
on account of the great fharpnefs and violence 
wherewith it grofly diffolves ^the Gold, at the 
fame time tears away more particles of the 
Silver, than the Aqua fort is leaves among the 
Gold. A proper Experiment or Proof, might 
however, after this manner, be made with care, 
in order to determine whether the above men- 
tioned increafe of weight proceeds from the 
Aqua forlisy or not ? 

The folution of the third Queftion is princi- 
pally to be derived from an examination of the 
fufed Antimony, upon its cooling j becaufe it 
is eafy for Antimony, in its frothy ebullirion, 
to tear away a few grains of the fubftance of 
the Gold, wbilft detained in thin fufion, and 
lodge them in the form of bubbles. 

62. Theultimate Refinement of Gold is thought 
to be that procured by fufing it thin, along with 
thrice its own weight of Antimony j wherein the 
Antimony tears away and imbibes the fubftance 
of all the other Metals, but leaves the Gold un- 
touched jwhi:h therefore, as the heavier body, fills 
like a regulus to the bottom of the melting-cone. 
*Tis remarkable in this Operation, that a 
very little portion of the Antimony, fo lif 
as can fcarce alter the weight of the Gold, 
heres tenacioufly to the furface thereof, ana 
vers its native colour mt\\^v(Vv\x.^\i^^^^. «' 



§.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 2I 

*cis commonly faid, thac the fume of the An- . 
titnony here turns the Gold white. The Rc» 
gulus is again to be purged from this accretion 
by the Blafi^ which will drive the little ad- 
ditional matter off in fcoria or exhalation • 

63. But as to the feparation of Gold from its itw. 
Ore, Sand, 6fc. we are to obferve, that the me- J^ 
thod varies according to the nature and difpoli- 
tion of the mineral matters, along with which 
the metal is mixM, whether it be ftony, ear- 
thy, fulphureous, arfenical, 6ff. For fbrne- 
times Gold is found in little fragments, either 
fquare or round, black or ihining, among 
the Sands of fome Rivers •, probably as being 
wafti'd down by the torrents or courfe of the 
River from fome Mine 5 fometimes 'tis found 
in large grains, or a mere powdry fubftance 
amidft a greafy Clay, or foapy Earth; and 
in thefe cafes, it generally contains a volatile 
part, or a part that will not fufe in the fire, but 
turns to an obftinate dry powdry Calx ; or elfe 
'tis found interfperfed among other metals and 
their Ores •, whence little fparks of it frequcndy 
adhere to irony Flints, and little blood-ttones ; 
or, laftly, 'tis found, fometimes more and fome* 
times Icfs intimately mixM along with other mi- 
nerals, in the mines ; whence the golden Ores of 
Sulphur, and yellow Marcafites, by fome called 
yellow, and by others, golden Zink, tfc. are found 
to afford Gold by extraftionin Aqua regia\ and 
this fometimes to profit *. 

Gold is collcfted in larger particles from^J^ 
Sand and Mud, by lVaJh\ug\ which is performed '^ 
in the Scparating-Troughs, that Hand a litdc 
aflant, and have tlicir bottoms lined with 

coarfe 



Malleable Earths or Metals* PartIL 

cbarle woollen Cloth, that is very nappy or 
fuzzy, in order to detain and entangle the 
heavier Sedinient. The Fleeces of Animals 
were anciently deftin^d to this ufe, and are, 
in fome meafure, ftill retained ; whence feme 
derive the ftory of the famous Golden Fleece. 
But by this means, only the larger fragments 
of the Gold are obtainable •, the finer particles 
plentifully efcaping along with the Sand or 
Mud, as being often equally moveable there- 
with. If this dirty or muddy matter be there- 
fore found rich in Gold, the method related 
by Ercker may be ufed to advantage ; where he 
fays, that in fuch cafes, they firft grjnd the 
matter or ore very fine by the Mill, then fife 
it, and lay it in large veflels or troughs, which 
ftand high, and defcend in a range, one under 
another ; fo that the water running firft into 
the uppermoft, where the powder is put, and 
overflowing there, it falls fucceffively into 
thofe that ftand underneath, and depofites the 
heavier matter as it goes •, by which ingenious 
contrivanccji all the valuable metalline Slud is 
faved at the bottoms of the veflels *. 

64, But becaufe here, as well as in almoft all 
the other kinds of Gold Slud, or Sediment, there 
is fometimes but a very fmall proportion of Gold 
contained ; as not above a quarter or half a!i 
ounce in a hundred weight •, and becaufe the pure 
metallic fubftance under fo large a weight is but 
of very little bulk, it may eafily happen that 
more fliall ftick in the Scoriae than is clearly 
feparated by the fufion. In this cafe therefore 
Silver is of principal ufe ; being mix'd or f 
along with thefe Scoriae or Sluds, cfpccially 



^^c la;;,0r. fycktr. MUSubt^m^ 



^. Malleable Earths or Metals. 2 

alreadv contain fome quantity of Gold ; or dfe 
(bis kind of Scorias may be thrown in as a fuffi** 
cicnt Flux in the fmelting of Silver and Copper ; 
by which means the Gold that remains in them 
eafily joins to the large mafs of the other Metal : 
cfpccially if the Scoriae, in a proper fituation, are 
laid unuer the other mineral matter •, fo that in 
melting, tlie Metal may run upon or ftrain thro* 
ibcm. ' . 

But in the fmall work, if the Gold-Ore re- 
fcmbles the Vein of any other Metal, its proof 
is to be taken by the means of Lead and 
Fulmination, in the manner lately mentioned 
of Silver *. 

C$. In cafe of a fmall or fine Gold-fand, or A 
very rich and delicate Slud \ both the Proof in ^ 
fmall, and the Extraftion in large, are fome- 
tinies effefted by Amalgamation. Thus a certain 
parcel of it being weighed out,.*tb mix'd with a 
determinate proportion of Mercury ; and a quan- 
tity of pure fimple or fait- water, poured warm to 
them in a glafs or (lone mortar -, or for the lai^e 
work a wooden one : in both cafes the matter is 
ground together, for fome time, with a wooden 
[^Uc \ then the Sand is diluted by the addition of 
i little more water, that the mercurial particles 
«Uy firft fubfide, which being now concreted in- 
t^ one mafs, the whole quantity of Sand, efpc- 
'^"*Jlvin a little bafon, is eafJy walhMoff: then 
^ Nlcrcury being fqueezM thro* Leather, die 
Panicles of Gold that were collected and drunk 
'f by it^ remain behind, mixM with about a 
--vrixirt of the Mercury, in the form of a foft 
^»^^ or anuli^am ; which when expofed in a Ikdc 
>^cd diih^ \o a gentle fire^ the Slcrcan- is thus 

CV3L- 



Malleable Earths or Metals. PartIL 

evaporated, and leaves the Gold in powder ; which 
may now be weighed, to fhew in .what proper- \ 
tion the Sand or Slud contains it. 

Ercketj for the large work, orders four 
pounds of Mercury to every hundred weight of 
Sand or Slud; or rather twenty pounds to be 
fucceflively mix'd with five hundred weight, i 
But the more Mercury is added, the eafier the j 
operation becomes } and what is fuperfluous, '\ 
may be commodioufly ftrainM thro' the Lea- j 
tlier. But when the matter remaining behind i 
in this Leather, thus detains a confiderable 
quantity of the Mercury along with it, *twou'd • 
not only be wafte, but alfo frequently prejudi- 
cial ana dangerous to the work-men, to lo(e it ' 
by naked evaporation. It may therefore be ; 
advantagioufly feparated in a little furnace, by 
being diftill'd, in a good earthen, glafs or iron 
Retort, into a Receiver fo far filled with Wa- 
ter, as to cover the adoptor, or additional neck . 
of the Retort, But it muft be obferved of this 
Water, that it alfo imbibes fome part of the 
Mercury in an aqueous form •, and thence will 
give a whitenefs to Gold : for which reafon, it 
may to good purpofe be ufed inftcad of Salt- 
water in the fucceeding amalgamations. 

otbtr 66. With regard to the fmaller Proofs, and 
*/^*tf- larger Smeltings of the other metals, there are 
tf^rom three things to be obferved -, viz. (i.) That the 
rorcs. rapacious heterogeneous Minerals, which fome- 
times cleave to thefe Metals, prove fo much the 
more detrimental, as they the eafier refotve them 
into powder, allies, fcorias and glafs 5 or as by 
adhering very tenacioufly thereto, they inr 
the expence, or the labour and the time r' 
to fcparate them. (2.) The fta**- 
of the Rock or Stotvc^ cotiuii 



,4* Malleable Earths of" Metals. ' i 

'cins, are to be confidcrd. And, (3.) The Me- 
il itfclf muft be confidcr^d as to the greater or 
;(s degree of Fire it will bear. 

As to the firft thing, let it be noted, that a 
copious Sulphur-Ore commonly pjns along 
with Copper in the Mine ; Cadmia along with 
Tin and Lead •, and Cobalt along with them alL . 

Thefe volatile Minerals are to be feparated 
from theOres by roafting; which, if gentle, fets 
the Sulphur on firje, and ib drives its acid pait in- 
to the Metal, efpecially Copper, whence it be- 
comes loofe or powdry,vitriolic, and uncapable 
of flowing in the Furnace. In the large work 
therefore, this roafting is either to be per- 
formed with a ftrong Fire ; or the matter muft 
be direftly committed to fufion, without any 
fuch preparation : whence in both cafes, the Sul- 
phur is thrown off in fumes, mealy matter, or 
flowers, before it has time to burn -, tho' fome 
part indeed will be ftill melted among the Me- 
tal. And this gives rife to that femi-metallic 
and femi-fulphureous Subftance called Pyrima-- 
cbum or Slag-ftone •, which is nothing elfe but 
the fulphuratcd Crocus of Copper fufed by a . 
ftrong Fire *. 

There are two Methods of feparating this 
Subftance*, in the lefler work 'tis done by 
means of fixM alkali, or Nitre fix*d with Tar- 
tar, which the affay-maftcrs call a Flux \ be- 
caufe, by imbibing the Sulphur, it fuffcrs the 
metal to melt and run freely in the Fire. Bilt 
in the larger work, this is effected by the ad- 
dition of earthy Scoriae, efpecially chofc of 
Iron •, which arc very readily hid hold of by 
Sulphur, 

Some- 



Malleable Earths, or Metals. Part II, 

Sometimes alfo, in the larger work,, they add 
the powder of Wood-Coals •, of which *cis re- 
marked in the fmelting-huts, that it reduces 
powdry fubftances, and half-burnt Calces, 
to a metallic fufion. Which efFeft probably 
depends upon one or other of the two follow- 
ing caufes, viz. ( i .) The fudden difchargc of 
the Sulphur, that in fubftance adhered to the 
Metal ; for 'tis a common Obfervation, that 
Sulphur burns away much fafter, along with 
Coals or other fewel, than when alone : or (2.) 
The accretion of the very fubtile and vitrefci: 
ble Earth, which is known to abound in 
Coals •, and which being here mixM in fine 
atoms along with the powder, that is not only 
difficult of fufion itfelf, but by its interpofi- 
tion, Ivieeps the metallic particles from uniting 
«vith one another •, this vitrefcible Earth pre- 
fently melts it down, runs it into glafs and ico- 
risB, and fo caufes it to quit the Metal. 

But if the ftony matter adhering to the im- 
perfeft Metals be ftubborn and refraftory, a 
little glafs of Lead is added in the leflcr Proofs; 
which excellently promotes the vitrification, of 
all fuch hard ftony fubftances. And this 
takes place particularly in that method of 
Proof, which Fafchius recommends for the ab- 
folutely per fed examination of Copper, by im- 
bibing and fulminating it with Lead in the na- 
ture of affiying Silver ores. To the lame pur- 
pofe alfo ferve fix'd alkalies, and the flux of 
Nitre and Tartar lately mentioned •, efpecially 
if prepared according to the direftion of Ere- 
ker^ of one part Nitre, and two of Tartar^ 
whereby it will be render 

In proving of the fo 
gard muft be had to t1 
^w, which ihou'd be 



§4. Malleable Earths or Metats. ; 

procure a thin fiifion and vitrification of the 
Scoriae \ but becaufe thcfc Metals are eafily 
burnt, they muft not be long detained in 
this degree of heat j but always feafonably ta* 
ken out. 

The Proofs of the imperfeft-Metals are not 
taken in an Aflay-furnace, but a common 
Wind-furnace, or a Brick-furnace, that is 
work'd with Bellows. 

: To conclude this Subjedl, let it be obfervy, 
in order to a due variation of the Flux, that^ 
if the Ore be fulphureous, as thofe of Copper 
almolt conftantly are, flx'd alkali is the proper 
addition \ but if they are not fulphureous, Glafi 
of Lead. 

GOLD. 

(^n. Hitherto we have confRtoM the more com- n^ 
modious mechanical Methods of cxtrafting the ^^^ 
Metals, according to their levcral kinds, in order 2L^ 
to obtain them pure; it remains that we next^"^^ 
treat of each Metal apart, and confider its va- 
rious chemical ufcs. We fliall begin with Gold, 
as the moft perfeft Metal of them all. 

The Experiments and Defigns, for the lake 
whereof this Metal is committed to various 
chemical Operations, have a primary regard 
either to Medicine or Alchemy. 

Several are in queft of the medicinal ufe of 
this Metal •, and others imagine they have 
found it. 

The former are, I know not whence, pcA 
fefs'd with a firm perfuafion, that from the 
moft perfcft body, or body of the moft perfeiSt 
mixture, which refifts all corruption, a me- 
dicine muft needs be obtained, capable of cu- 
^hg ail the corrupnou \u o\.Vv^\ \io^\^^* ^>\v 

\3 2. ^^ 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. 

not to mention that the Favourers of this Opi- 
nion do not eftecm Gold in its native ftate, or 
under that form wherein it fo obftinately refifts 
corruption, fit for their purpofe •, but rather 
endeavour to corrupt it firft, and fo throw it 
out of that natural ftate, upon which thftir 
argument is founded : Not to infift upon this, 
I fay, 'tis obvious that there is no manner of 
connexion in arguing from the abfence of cor- 
ruption, or inherent incorruptibility in Gold^ 
to its communicating the fame to other bo- 
dies ; efpecially as this incorruptibility depends 
upon the manner of the mixture, and the fi- 
gure of the fmallcfl particles of the Gold ; 
which it can by no means be fuppofed to 
transfer •, as, according to this hypothefis, it 
aftually and efficiently ought to do. 

But thofe Gentlemen who are guided by 
Conflellation, and magnetic virtues, ftand up 
for the ufe and exhibition of Gold in its pro* 
perfubftance i as conceiving it to aft, or ra- 
ther hoping It would aft magnetically, or by 
fome planetary virtue. Whence the Patrons 
of Magnetifm recommend the crude body of 
Gold to be wore in Amulets •, but this feldom, 
without being firft melted at fome certain jun- 
fture; whilft others of them give it, in the Call- 
ing, fome certain Signatures or Cabaliftical 
Charaftcrs, the better to fit it for this purpofe. 
But thofe who contend for its planetary or a- 
ttral virtue, exhibit it fimply in the Leaf; 
whence Leaf-Gold comes to be fo plentifully 
mixM in mofl: of the Cordial, Alexipharmic, 

and Epileptic Powders of the Shops, 

* 

rai. 68. Butthcre-fearchesoftheAlchemifts 
". furprizingly attack'd the conftancy ofG< 
variom ways j thoVVilVvo\M%m1r 



§4* Malhahk Earths or Metals. 

ver ; and when found to ftick or be well fa- 
ftenM, they fweep off the fuperfluous part of 
the gilding matter, with a proper brufh made 
for the purpofe ; and rub the remainder in 
with a piece of wooll or cotton, till they have 
laid the furface fmooth and fleek. Thus the 
plate being now well quick-filver'd over* they 
place it upon glowing coals, till the Mercury 
is all gone off in fumes •, after which the plate 
appears not fliining, but yellov/. And now, if 
any yellow powder is found flicking to it, this 
they alfo brufli off and fave. Laftly, they 
plunge the plate into a veflel of clear Water, 
and tliere fcrub the furface of it with a brufh 
made of very fine brafs-wirc -, that if any part 
of the Gold fhould ftill remain but fuperficial- 
ly adhering to the plate, it may be thus fetch'd 
off; and fo falling into the Water, be there 
collc6led for farther ufe; 

The Aquafortisy according to the reafon af- 
fign*d by the work-men, is here ufed to eat 
little cavities in the furflice of the Copper or 
Silver, for the fine particles of the Gold to lodge 
in : but. the whole bufinefs depends upon this, 
that the exceeding fubtile atoms of the Gojd, 
firft fprcad upon the Plate, may be after- 
wards melted 01^ made to fink into it, by heat 



or Ignition. 



In the greater work, where fuch large Plates ^^^ 
are to be gilded as cannot be equally and du-r^A 
ly ignited ; when as much of the Mercury.as 
is poflible comes to be exhaled, the fmall par- 
ticles of the Gold are ftill found adhering on- 
ly in the form of a powder ; whence fome 
part thereof may be eafily fhook off by the va- 
rious motions to which thefe plates are liable. 
But to prevent this, the Work-men have a 
particular artifice-, i;iz, the^ befcwewxr^ or cafe 



Malleable Earths ar Metals. Partll, 

over the whole plate, when hot, with a mix' 
ture of Wa3t and other thing?; by which 
means, as the plate comes either to be igni- 
ted fucceffively at different operations, or du- 
ly heated at once, upon a large hearth, the 
• Gold particles are at the fame time properly 
melted into the furface of the Metal*. 

This Mixture they call healtng-JVax ; the 
bafis, or principal Ingredient whereof, is com- 
mon Wax itfelf, brought into a due or hard 
confiftcnce with red Oakcr. But, in order ftill 
more to foi-ward the Gilding, or the melting 
in of the Gold, they fornstimes add Borax ; 
and at the fame time, to give the work a more 
agreeable colour, Verdigreafe, A proper Com- 
pofuion to anfwcr the feveral intentions at 
once, is the following. To four ounces of 
melted yellow Wax, add,- in pcrfedlly fine 
powder, an ounce and a half of common Rud- 
dle or red Oaker; an ounce and a half of Ver- 
digreafc\ calcined till it yields no more fumesj 
aixl half an ounce of Borax, gently burnt, 
•dried, or calcined tocrifpncfs ; to v/hichmight 
Jikewile be added a dram or two of burnt brafs, 
if the intci.tion of the Verdlgrcafc fliouM re- 
quire to be farther anfwer'd. 

72, The next operation to Gilding, is that of 
Colouring the gilt Plate -, or advancing the co- 
lour of the Gold that covers the work, to ahigh^^' 
yellow or orange. 

This purpole is in fome meafure anfwerM, and 
for the larger works, by the ufe of the artificial 
orcomVounded /F^x-juft now mentioned-, but in 
the Imaller, and particularly in the Silver Works, 
the bufinefs is pcrformM by quenching the f 

pH 

t 5<:c£ow//Aphilofoph.TvinGL&. WwV ''"* 



54. Malleable Earths or Metals^ 

plitc, whilft mcderacely hot, in the Urine of a _ 
healthy man ; either alone or as mix'd with a 
very ftnall quantity, for inftance not above a 
thirtieth part, of Sal-ammoniac. But this is to 
be done after the plate has been . gilt over, 
fcrubb*d with the wire-brufti, and polilh'd with 
the Stecl-Burnifher. 

73. The Colour of Gold is imprpveable two i 
feveral ways ; the one, fuch as we have already ^ 
mentioned, and reaching not below the furfacc 5 
but the other going fo deep, as in a furprizing 
manner to affeft, tinge, and alter the whole mafs 
and all its particles : which latter Method is 
fometinies called by the name of Cameniatton^ 
putting the caufe for theeffed, andfometimes 
Graddtm ; of which more prefently, after wc 
have mentioned a word or two oiColouriJh*. 

This word Colourijh is fometinies under- c< 
flood of the above mention*d exaltations of^ 
the Colour of Gold ; and fometimes, from the A 
eircft going along with it, of a certain cor- J[j|) 
rofive Liquor which diffolves all the Metals Ci 
except Gold^ and which they therefore uf? for a 
rough and ready examination of Gold^ as well 
as for redoring or improving its lullre upon 
gilt-Work, Thus if any parcel of metallic 
nutter be propofed asrefembling GcWm many 
circumftances, efpecially in the commcm proof 
by the Touch-ftone ; and upon a hill ftrokeof , 
.this meLiUic matter left upon that Stone, a 
drop or two of the compound Liquor called 
C:I:urijby or a little J^i,J ftr:is be ralAcrf, 
the Liquor will totally diflolve orcaioiuroi' the 
ftroke ;\11 the metal tlut is nor ponr GSIJ, and 
Wave nothi:^ behind but b«r And there thi 
toe !j\anglcs thenxtf ; whence the prcoxtiM 

of 

^1 



8 Malleable Earths or Metals. V2itt\\, f 

of the Gold contain'd in the mafs maybe 1 
conjefturcd ; or if the mafs were pure Gold, 
the line or ftroke will ftill remain full as ic was', ^ 
and uncIiminilK'd. * 

Fafchius^ for this Operation ufes either O- \ 
lourijhov Aquafortis^ indifFerently as they hap, 
pen to be at hand. The Colourijh being a dry I 
Kind of Aquafortis^ at leaft not yet diftill'd, . 
but prefervable in a dry form, foas to be oc- ; 
cafionally converted into a humid confiftence. • 
Tim Colourijh is made of Vitriol and burnt ' 
Alum, each four parts; Nitre two parts, ■ 
and Salt one part, with the addition of a little ! 
Vcrdigreafe : and thus it may be either kept 
in a dry powder, or brought into a nni\ 
more or lefs liquid, by grinding it with Urine 
or Vinegar. Some alfp add Sal-ammoniac to it i 
but as fuch a compofition wou*d then cafily 
diflblve Gold, this is better let alone. Befides 
the imperfeft Metals are very readily diflblvcd 
by fuch acid bodies without its alliltance ; cf- 
peciully when reduced to fuch fmall particles, 
as .they leave behind upon the Touch-ftone: 
fo that if Sal-ammoniac be added in the com- 
pofition, the Colourijh miift by no means 
remain too long upon the Touch-ftone •, nor 
need it be fuflfer'd to lie long at all, becaufe 
it is prefcntly to be perccivM, upon wafliing 
off the Cokurijh with common Water, whe- 
ther any part of the ftroke be taken away. 
However in (hort, A^uaforth is the more com- 
modious thing for this purpofe, if not for 
Gilding. 

•nidation, 74' Gradation is principally founded upon tint 
Lrecnit Subftancc, which we have formerly treated 
^^'''''' under tlie name of the Sulphur of Gold, or the 

I fixM 



§4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

fix'd metallic Sulphur* For all the Gradations 
perforni'd with the afliftance of any other mine* 
ral Subftances, either fucceed but privatively, {o 
far as the Antimony or Sulphur deftroy afla im-r 
bibeall the other corpufcles, efpecially thofc of 
Silver, that arc mix'din amongft the Gold, and 
fo by taking away what before rendered the Gold 
pale, leave it pure and of its own native co* 
lour 9 or elfc thefe additional bodies either have 
that called the fix'd Sulphur of Gold accidental- 
ly or conftantly mixM along with them 5 tho* 
I'ometimes in a greater and fometimes in a lefs 
proportion. 

There are alfo tranfiior'^ Gradations of Gold 
found naturally pale ; which palenefs prefently 
vaniflies, and the true colour appears upon 
repeated Fufions ; but thefe are x^lh(iv fuper^ 
Jicial Gradations^ and belong to the former 
Clafs of Colouration. 

75. But the vnovt perfeul and noble Gradations n 
are thofc that require the afliftance of the fixM JfJ 
or fulphureous Golden Subftance, which is faid " 
to be plentifully and particularly lodged in Iron 
and Copper. But bccaufe this matter is lemi- 
volatile, and therefore uncapable of fuftaining 
a violent Fire, unkfs gradually ufcd thereto, and 
btimatcly . combined with Gold ; and bccaufe 
when this is done, it confiderably alters the. 
lixedncfs of the Gold, unlefs it meets with ano* 
ther metallic Subft:ance, wherein it may be 
•^gain incorporated, and fo feparatcd from the* 
Gold whereto it had before adhered ; thefe 
Operations are fometimes performed by Cae- 
'dentation, tho* thus with the lefs certainty ; 
and fometimes by Solution, Precipitation and 

Extraflion, 

*^f j/,p,33. of thisScfitioA^ 



y Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. 

Extraftion, as wc have formerly obfervedin 
treating of this fixed Sulphur *. 
rirAir- J 6. The bcft Method of graduating the Colour 
'^'f of Gold^ is that propofed more than once by 
Becber\ which in exprefs terms is as follows f. 
Take equal parts of Gold and Copper, and 
their full weight of Antimony ; fiife them toge- 
ther for half an hour 5 then again melt the Regu- 
lus with half its quantity of Copper, and its 
whole weight of Antimony -, and in the fame 
proportion let the fufion be once more repeated. 
After this, fufe the Regulus by it felf, and whilft 
it flows, throw in a little Nitre •, and continue 
doing thus till they flow thin together. But if 
the colour be defired ftill higher, let the work 
be again repeated with frelh Copper and Anti- 
mony, 

The fame fuccefs may belikewife had by ufing 

common Sulphur inftead of Antimony. 

its 77, The Foundation of this Operation refts 

iatton* here. In Copper is contained what they call 

cmbryonated Gold, or the Sulphur of Gold not 

above hajf fix'd -, which is not liable to be de- . 

ftroyM by the Antimony ; but when Cop- 

. per is melted alone, this Sulphur falls in tlie 

Regulus Its if therefore a Metal of like kind is 

prefent, as in our cafe perfeftGold, the Sulphur 

eafily accretes thereto for fome time at leaft. 

And upon this Foundation 5^^i6^r hasalfobuilc 

a Method of increafing Gold +. 

►wM 78. Next after this Method, Gradation is 

'^j^f:^-^' well perfornVd by means of the r^^ jgr^^/^^/(?0 

Glafs of Co;^per^ defcribed hy Becher ** ascom- 

pofed 

' ' ■ ! l • I ■^ 

♦Sccpag. Iff, &c. 

t See Concord. Ciiym. p. 416. N^, 14., 

II See Bepher, Miner. Areaar. pag. 873,9iOi9Ut 

4: Idem ibid, pag. 909, f^e. 

♦♦ Concord. Chym, pag.7i%% "^^A^ 



^' Malleable Earths or Metals. ; - 

pa(ed of calcined Flbts two parts. Crocus Ve^ 
nffis one part, and Nitre fix*d with Tartar three 
parts, fuied together in a well-clofed Crucible^ 
with a very llrong heat, for fome hours fuccef* 
lively. Then the Crucible bebg broke> if the 
Gm dots not appear fufficiently beautiful,! c 
muft again be melted in a new velTel as before^ 
and kept in fufion for fome time. But in both 
cafes, ir any metallic Regulus appears, it may 
be feparated and examined by melting it along 
with pure Silver •, in order to try whether it will 
not upon Cupellation afford a grain or two of 
Gold. But the Glafs it felf is ufed to heighten 
the colour of pale Gold,' by being fufed along 
with it. 

79. As native Gold is found not only of dif- o 
fcrent colours, but alfo of different degrees of^ 
foftnefs, or malleability and brittlcnefs * 5 fo any Ar 
kind of Gold will lofe of its duftility, and become 
more or lefs friable by the fupcrncial acceffion 
of any of the lefs malleable Metals or Mine- 
rals. 

This defcft of Gold is commonly remedied 
by throwing a little Borax, Mercury-Subli- 
mate, or Nitre to it in the fufion. 

Uix)n the addition of Nitre in this cafe, 
£rckLT has a very remarkable obfervation ; 
viz. that if the Gold, growing loft with a 
gentle heat in the Crucible, remain juft 
upon the point of running fluid, and at this 
junfturc a little Nitre be thrown into it ; there 
fnfucs a fmall luminous fplendor o: fulmbation, 
upon which the Gold inftanily running thin, 
the Crucible ought then to be immediately 
taken out of die Fire ; for if the Gold be 
fuficr*d to How fo long under the Nitre, till 

this 

* &t t^f AiriJgm* Vol. I. x^. 1 J^ ^SS> ^^^^ ^^ 



2 Malleable Earths or Metals. V^xtli 

this, with the new impetus of heat, comes to 
run fo liquid as that the Gold fhines thro' it 
! the fmall quantity of heterogeneous matter 
contained in the Nitre, will again fink into the 
Gold, and render it as brittle as before. 
The Direftion of Fafcbius ought here alfo 
I to be remembered, who advifes upon making 
the aflay to let the Gold at laft cool gradual- 
I ly in its Tcft, under tlie Muffle, without re- 
moving it from the Fire -, and as it there comes 
' to harden, to keep always gently knockint^ 
i the veflel, to niake the matter undulate as it 
; were; whereby thelittlemafs of Metal, which 
I wou'd otherwife be brittle and untraftable, ;vi!l 

! become foft and malleable. 

1 

^tdi^ 8o, The medicinal Preparations of (jold, 
^2'^ are principally defign'd and direfted to obtain a 
5 «» ' more or lefs attenuated Solution thereof. 
on,^d Gold is commonly diflblved in Aqua regia^ 
w^- made with Spirit or Nitre and Sal-ammo- 
niac, either by a bare commixtiu'e and di- 
gcftion of thofe matters together, or elfe by a 
diftillation thereof. And the more Sal-ammo- 
niac there is contained in this Liquor, the more 
fubtile is the Iblution of the Gold. But foine 
prepare their Aqiia regia^ by diftillation from 
equal parts of Sal-ammoniac and Nitre, ei- 
ther with or without powdcr'd Brick or cal- 
cined Flints. The operation in this cafe is 
moft commodioufly performed in a tubulated 
Retort, becaufe of the detonation and fpumid 
impetus, which thefc two concretes have in the 
fire. If Gold be diffolved in thtJquarcgi(i 
procured by this method, and the folutior 
digefted, and feveral times cohobated 
the addition of frcfli Liquor, B^^^'^'' ^ 



j,^. Malleable Earths or Metals. ^y 

us*, the Gold will thus become totalljr vo* 
ladle. 

A fimilar or ftill more potent Menftruum 
is given us by CaJ/ius* y. who nuxing pure 
Nitre with Oil of Vitriol, thence diftilsa Spi- 
rit 't and obtaining another in the fame man- 
ner from common Salt, he joins the two Spi- 
rits together. In this Jqua regia he diflblves 
Gold, then draws off the Menftruuni, till a 
melLiginous fubftance remains behind, to 
which he again adds as much of the Aqua regia^ 
as makes up the former quantity ; then again 
abftrafts, and fo repeats this cohobation thrice. , • 
Laftly, he mixes, along with the remaining mel- 
laginous matter, twice its weight of well de- 
pblegm*d Oil of Vitriol, and by diftilling it in 
aftrong heat of Sand, there afccnd, as heex- 
prefles it, mod elegant Rubies. Which expref- 
fion is not fo extravagant as it may appear ; 
for Kunkel alfo || tells us, that by pouring a 
little Oil of Vitriol into a folution of Gold, 
arid diftijHng it over with a ftrong fire at laft, 
a portion of the Gold will not only afcend in 
the form of red drops, but alfo fublime to the 
top of the Cucurbit, in the appearance of 
Feathers or Flowers, tinged of a moft beauti- 
ful red. But if thefe Flowers are touch'd by 
the open Air, they again run into a yellow- 
coloured liquor. 

The fame Cajftus likewife ** advances a 
quicker Method of volatilizing Gold by means . 

of 



1 ' ■ 

I^oret, Chymic. Exp. a. pag. 191. 
t ^ndr. CaJf.TTZ&2t. de Auro, pag. 101. 
J Contra Non-cntla Chymic. Non-ens, 1 j. pag. lo/. Sec 
^Mr.Bcyli Abridgm.Vol.1. pag. 4^8, 4/9* &C, 
^^CMjfAe Aur. pag. igi| loa. 



>4 Malleable Earths or Met akVzxtll, 

of the Smoking Spirit f , which in the fpace of 
an hour fublimes it into yellow Flowers. In 
order to this, he evaporates a Solution of Gold 
made with Aqua rfgia^ till it leaves only a lit- 
tie purple calce behind j upon which he poun 
the Smoking Spirit : then clapping the head 
upon the Cucurbit, he diftils m hot Sand; 
* and as foon as ever the matter comes to be 
agitated by the heat, the Smoking Spirit very 
impetuoufly carries up the particles of the Gold, 
and fublimes along with them into yellow 
round Flowers. 

Gold is likewife diflblved 'by an Aqua regia 
made of the common Spirit of Nitre, and Spi- 
rit of Salt -, but not by the Spirit of Salt alone, 
without feme little addition or interpofition 
of Nitre. This is underftood of crude Gold ; 
for as to the Calx thereof, it may without 
difpure be diflblved in Spirit of Salt, becaufe 
of the nitrous particles of the Aqua regia ftill 
adhering to it. 

btway 8 1. Gold is otherwife diflblvable by dry Cd- 
hyCaL cination \ where a latent faline Subftance is, how- 
ever, the Foundation of the Operation. 

This is performed by the Author of the lit- 
tle Treatife called Sol fine vefte^ commonly 
fuppofed to be OrfchaU with common Salt •, 
by Ftnckius with Hartfliorn ; by Cajftus with 
Pumice-ltone, and by others again with Flints, 
For this purpofe a quantity of thin plates 
of Gold are cut very fmall, and alternately 
ftrew*d over with any of the forefaid things, 
in a clofe Muffle, or cementing Veflel, of a 
proper fize \ a parcel of the additional mat- 
ter alone, being laid at the bottom, and an- 
. other 

t Secpag. 2181I19. 



^ Malleable Earths or Metals. %% 

other at the top. The veflel, when wcttftop* 
ped up and luted, is thus applied to a cemen- 
ting heat, which is to be gradually iiicreafed 
till the veflel becomes ignited •, in which ftate 
being for feveral Hours detained, the veflel is 
at length taken out and broken -, upon which 
the interfperfed matter is here and there foUnd 
tinged of a purple colour. 

When common Salt is ufed in this cale^* 
the colour may be fcparated by a bare folu- 
tion in cold Water, where the Gold falls to 
the bottom, in form of a very fubtilc Powder 
or Crocus. But if Pumice or Hartfhorn were 
employed, the body of thefe being diflblved 
by the affufion of Vinegar, the golden Sub- 
ftance will be thus precipitated ; which fome 
preferve under the form of a powder, and 
hold for a cordial alexipharmic ; efpecially 
when Harcfliorn is ufed in the preparation. 

But thofe who imagine that the eflendal 
matter of the Gold is here drawn out from 
the fmall plates, are in a manifeft Error ; for 
thefe little plates ftill remain good Gold ; which 
they cou*d not do, if any part of their eflence 
were extrafted. The cffeft produced is rather 
a fmall fiiperficial corrofion of the plates ari- 
fing from the ftyptic, earthy or calcarious 
kind of Salt, contained in the Hartfhorn and 
the Pumice \ as being here, by the agitation 
of the Fire, continually rubb*d agiinft the 
furface of the little plates ^ whence fome fmall 
parts of their fubibnce may well be taken off; 
which though they thus come to give a pur- 
p5e colour, arc no nvsnc the e&nriil nuitcr 
^ the Gold, dun any other purple Qocus of 
Gold \ but only mere laicgril parrs of ihc 
••^Sgr^itc, 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II, 

mf 82. There are certab other Powders or Cr^ 

^ cujfes prepared from Gold, called Cr(?«iS(?/ij, be- 
ing principally of three different colours^ and ha- 
ving four different ufes. 

The firft is a black or dujky Powder^ that 
ferves for extemporaneous Gilding. Thtfecond 
is of a faffron colour ^ being made with A(iua 
regta by exhalation, commonly called the Calx 
of Gold, and fervihg for various purpofes of 
Amalgamations and Extractions ; but becomes 
the /AiW when made with Aq^ua regia^ by pre- 
cipitation : 'tis of a 'yellow colour ^ and cal- 
led Aurum Fulminans^ which is of ufe in me- 
dicine. And the fourth is a purple Powder 
made of the Aurum Fulminans. 

ck. The manner of preparing l\it firft is this. 

Having made a Solution of Gold in five or 
fix times its quantity of common Aqua regia^ 
let clean linen Cloths be dipt therein and 
dried ; continuing or repeating the operation 
till all the Solution is foak'd up. Then put 
the Cloths into a little Crucible, and burn 
them with a fmall and gentle ignition, and 
keep the remaining matter for ufe, under the 
form of a fine black Powder : A little of which 
• being taken up with a wet cork,- and rubbed 
upon a plate of Silver, will immediately gild 
over the Metal \ though much more oold is 
confumed in this way, than in the common 
one of gilding by the Amalgam. 

^^, The fecond or faffron-colour^d Calx of Gold 

is made by diftilling or evaporating to dry- 
nefs a Solution of the Metal made in Jjuti 
regia ; the fire being at laft increafed fo as 
gently to ignite the remaining matter. 
t% The third or yellow Calx ^Gold is prep 

by gently pouring Oil of Tartar per delif 
into a Solution of the Metal, made with 
I 



§.4. Malleable Earihs or Metals. 

Jqua regia as contains Sal-ammoniac ; by which 
means the Gold is precipitated in the form of 
a yellow Powder. After the liquor therefore 
has ftood a proper time to fubfide, the cleai* 
part thereof that floats above the powder is de- 
canted, and the Sediment feveral times edulco^ 
rated with hot Water ; and at laft permitted 
to dry with a very foft and gentle heat. 

If a little of this Powder be laid upon art 
iron, or any other metalline plate, placed over 
a candle, or a parcel of burning Coals, it takes 
fire and goes off with a very fmart report^ 
and fo flrong an impetus, as to ftrike a re- 
markable cavity in the plate. From which 
phasnomenon fome have imagined that this 
powder had a tendency, contrary to that of 
Fire, downwards; though in reality the ex- 
^ plofion is made ' quaquaverfum^ or in all di-. 
menfions alike *. 

The fourth is made by mixing or gently w*i 
grinding common Sulphur, or the Flowers of^^ 
ic, along with this Aurum Fulminans^ and af- 
terwards melting the mixture with a foft heat^ • 
which at laft is to be fo far increafed, as to fet 
on fire and burn out the Sulphur •, v/hence a 
prple Powder will be left behind. 

83. *Tis obfervable of this Aurum Fulminans^Pt 
that if too much Oil of Tartar per deliquium be^-^ 
ufed in its precipitation, the fulminating effedl rui 
is thereby deftroy'd : but that this faculty may *" 
be again reftored to it, by pouring Spirit of 
Urine to the Calx, and digefting it a little there- 
on f. 

X 2 As 



• SecBdy/t Abridgin.VoLILpag.j'i9.8c Mcmoir.dcTAcAd. 
^^ieac.An. 1719. V 

fScQ KnnM. Obfcrvat, Sccund.Ca^v . 



nai 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II, 

As to the true reafons of the fulminating 
* property acquired by the Gold in this pre- 
paration, there are various Speculations, which 
regard partly the Matter of the Fulmination, 
the Acccnfion and the Corufcation, and pardy 
the Form^ the Sound, and the Report. 

Cajfms endeavours to join them both toge- 
ther f, where he fays, that the extra^erted 
fulphureotis particles cf the Gold are here, by 
means of the Fire, fet lopfe from the con- ' 
nexion of the Salts, whicb feem as it were 
oppofites -, whence upon breaking their hold, 
and flying afunder from each other, they vio- 
lently ftrike the Air in the fame manner as 
Sulphur and Nitre in the explofion of Gun- 
powder. 

But a very great difficulty arifes in this Ex- 
planation, from the ufe of the words extr averted 
ftdphureous particles of the Gold. For, ( i .) The 
Sulphur of Gold is never, by any author who 
mentions it, taken for an inflammable fub- 
ftance, like that of common Sulphur. (2.) 
The v/ord ex tr aver ted introduces a ver^ grofs 
kind of Mechanifm into the conception of 
mixture ; as if the individual parts of Gold 
confifted of fulphureous, mercurial, and ter- 
reftrial particles, promifcuoufly placed afide ot 
■ one another, fo as by a flight operation to be 
eafily feparated again, or otherwifc tranfpofcd, 
(3.) If the report did here arife from the caufe 
aflignM, viz. the efcape of the ardent Sul* 
phur in the Gold, 'tis manifeft that the Gold 
thus fulminated mufl: be deft:roy*d in (omt 
eflential part ; which is a thing that mi*"" 
wifli cou*d be fo fuddenly done i but i 
by any means eflfefted in this cafe. (4.) 



f Tradlat.dc Auro, pag, 10 j* 



.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 30^ 

on the footing of this Explanation the fame • 
thing fliouM likewife happen in the other Me- 
tals, but particularly Tin •, as a Metal that 
abounds plentifully with an actual inflamma- 
ble Sulphur : but nothing of the like cfFeft 
appears upon the •Experiment. 

And indeed 'tis a very intricate phaenomc- 
non, that hardly admits of a probable Solu- 
tion %. 

But if to account for this phasnomenon, 
there be a neceffity of finding out a foreign 
heterogeneous Sulphur, which rather fouls and 
debafes than goes to conftitute Gold ; what 
we have lately faid of the fulguration or co- 
rufcation, which happens in purging, by the 
addition of Nitre, luch Gold as is infefted 
with an adhering impurity, whereby 'tis ren- 
dered brittle *, might lead one to fufpecfV, 
that fome thing adheres to the Gold upon 
its being precipitated from the fulphureous 
Salts of Nitre and Sal-ammoniac •, which com- 
ing afterwards to be fired along with parr oT 
the nitrous fubftance, regenerated from the 
Salt of Tartar and Spirit of Nitre, in the 
Aqua regia^ they by their joint and mutual 
collifion caufe this fmart report. 

84, This Aurum Fulminans is otherwife pre- 
pared from that Solution propofcd by Zwel- 
A'* t, which confifts of Nitre, common Salt, or 
Sal-Gem, each eight ounces \ crude Alum, five 
ounces; all being diflblved together in Water. 
Then half an ounce of Gold thinly plated and 
X 3 r«/, 

t See Ntwfon, Optic. {\xhfincm^%ndBoerhnnv9*iCheia\&Typ 
Praft.pag. 19811. 
* ^c 5.7p. of this Scaion, 6 Mbl. 
f Maatiit 5pagiric. pag. 519, 



'^ 



Malleable Earths or Met ah Part II. 

cut^ is to be long boiled in this faline liquor 
and the whole to be infpiflated, at length even 
to drynefs. And the dry mafs is now again to 
be diffolved, filtred, and at laft precipitated with 
Sale of Tartar. 

But if this infpiffated matter be poured to 
Spirit of Wine, and digefted for fonne time 
therewith •, the Spirit thence imbibes a very 
^eii. fubtile Solution of the Gold, which has this 
ttbld remarkable efFeft, that it prefently gilds over 
any clean and polilh'd iron Body that is put 
into it : which is no contemptible Experiment 
oi OrfchaU or the author of Solftnevefte^. 
There are many chemifts, who e>:peft and 
hope for a moft attenuated refolution of Gold, 
by means of this operation, which they call 
fiient or gentle Solution ; and indeed with re- 
fpeft to common Salt, ufed in its entire fub- 
ftance, the Procefs propofed by Dakr for 
obtaining the folar Mercury by this Solution, 
deferves at leaft to be experimentally exa- 
minM, if not credited ||. That this Solution 
is much more fubtile, and much more pure 
than that performed by the violent Solv:nts, 
which always tenacioufly adhere to the cor- 
pufcles of Gold, feems highly credible, but 
particularly from the Extradlion by Spirit cf 
Wine, I 



ra 



^^ 85. The confideration of this Solution and j 

w- Extraction brings us next to touch upon thofe 

]l^ Solutions of Gold which are commonly called 

«'- TinSluresy by means whereof many believe or 

hope themfelves able to produce wonderful cf- 



^ Experim. 8, pag.if. 



j^. Malleable Earths or Metals. 3 

(2.) That the wbitenefs does not here proceed 
irom x\\t Extt aSlion of the red colour, but 
frpm the acceflion of certain particles of the 
Menftruum to the Metal ; as Becbsr has very 
remarkably obferv'd f . 

But if this ExlraSlion^ that is an exceeding- 
ly fubtile Solution of the Gold^ as fome will 
have it, cou'd tinge Silver into Gold^ it wou'd 
be a moft valuable thing, whatever people 
may think to the contrary •, who will fome- 
times fay, that thefe ExtraSlions^ otherwife 
called Anima or Souls^ tinge only fo much 
Silver into Gold, as amounts to the quantity 
of the Gold from whence they were extrac- 
ted •, whence it Ihou*d feem, that this wou'd be 
a difadvantageous tranfmutation, whereby the 
fame quantity of Gold that was laborioufly 
(leftroy'd, is only recovered again with a Ids 
of all the charge. 

But here we ought to obferve; (i.) That 
'tis one thing to adt the philofopher, and an- 
other to aft the good-husband in Chemiftry : 
fo this Experiment, though it might not be 
gainful, it might ftill prove fatisfaftoiy. (2.) 
If the thing fliouM fucceed, at leaft the white 
Gold might be afterwards amalgamated with 
Mercury, and mixM with a fufficient quan- 
tity of Sulphur •, whence a Cinnabar being fub- 
limed, the remaining Calx might be fufcd 
with Antimony, and treated by the Teft and 
the Blaft ; or elfe it might by fome gradua- 
ting Cement be readily reftor*d to its native 
colour, fo as perhaps to leave the Art of tid- 
ing Silver no unprofitable work. 

With regard to this manner of fubtilizing 
Cold^ there are certain proceflcs o^Bccber in his 

Rofetum 



f %iic. Subtcmn. Ub,l. Sca.6, G^^.^.^^^-^- 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II. ! 

Rofetum Cbymicum^ that deferve to be prln- \ 

cipally recommended*-, whereby the G(?W be- ' 

ing refolved prpdigioufly fine, is by the ac- ; 

cretion of an antinnonial, mercurial, and arfe- ; 

nical part, fubtily interwoven with the Atoms i 

of the Silver, and by a fubfequent fufion, and ^ 
a fufficient motion or confermentarion, brought 
to aflimilate fome parts of the Silver to it- 
felf. 

^hff 87. Nor is the Invention ofCaffius inferior to 
a^iit 2a\y of thefe Methods of fubtilizing G(?/</, whe- 
^* ther of the humid or the dry kind-, whereby 
he reduces the body of that Metal to fo great 
a degree of tenuity, that when melted with Glais 
it Ihall at firft perfeftly difappear therein •, but 
after a new, tho* gentle agitation of ignition, it 
becomes indeed confpicuous, yet by no means 
under its native or other immediately fenfible 
form-, but only mediately, or as it introduces 
that purple colour into Glafs, which has for fo 
many ages been efteem'd a loft thing. The ho- 
nour of reftoring this Difcovery, Becber alfo at- 
tributes to CaJ/ius f. But Orfcbal^ or the author 
q{ Sol fine vejte^ firft publiftied the thing ; who 
may therefore be confulted upon that head : but as 
to his fincerity, *tis proper to confult experience. 
For I know that Cajfius has in Converfation de- 
clared himfelf not concern*d at this publication, 
becaufe the more weighty matters in the affair 
were unknown to that author, and confequently 
not fet down by him \ tho* thoroughly approved 
by experience. 

8^ 



• Rofcc. Chymic. N®, 18, 19, 14. 
t In his Trcatife entituled, liUktr'i[cb9 fVeifiheii, ^ * 
Wifdom, Pan I. pag. jj. 



5.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. j: 

88. That however is a curious Experiment of ^ 
OrfcbaU and highly worthy ofobfervation, where '^ 
be affcrts, that Gold precipitated by means of 
Mercury gives the fame purple colour to the li- 
quor in precipitation, as it does by being pre* 
cipitated with Tin. Nor is that lefs remarkable, 
where the precipitation being made in reftificd 
Spirit of Wine inftead of common Water, he 
declares the Gold was precipitated fo fubtile, as 
to require the fpace of many days before it fell 
to the bottom \ and when there, appeared not 
in the form of a grpft powder, but in that of a 
kind pf mucilage *. 

We wou*d recommend fomcthing like the 
following Experiment to the curious Inquirers 
in this matter, Let Gold and Mercury be fc* 
paratelv diflblved in the Aqua regia recom* 
mended by Caffius 1', and both the Solutions 
alternately dropp*d into Spirit of Wine inilead 
of Water •, and let the Precipitation be made 
according to the method mentioned when we 
fpoke of Caffius*s Aqua regia || : let the Pre- 
cipitate have time enough allowed it to fub- 
fide ; then decaiit the clear liquor, and let 
the remaining Sediment dry fpontaneoufly ; af- 
ter which, having edulcorated it feveral times 
with common Water, let it be brought into 
a little mafs with a fufficient quantity of Mer- 
cury, in the manner of an Amalgam, which 
ihou'd be gently digefted for two months 5 
and when totally converted to a powdry fub- 
ftance, let it be tried in the way of projefUon 
upon melted Gold ; whether it may prove of 
any feryice or not. With this fubtilization or ac- 
cretion of Qold may be compared the firft, third 

and 

*S0iJuu vijli, Exp. ly. pa^. ^f . 
/&cf.8o.ofihisScaiou. \^WA^ 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Partll. ^ 

and fixth Procefs of Becb$r^% Rofelum Ch'^mi^ 



cum. 



89. *Tis commonly allow'd, upon the autho- 
•^J^ rity of Experience, that Gold cannot fufter the 
/ leaft diminution by being detained in a ftrong 
g Fire of fufion. Thus Kunhl obferves *, that Sil- 
ver and Gold being feparately kept in continual 
fufion, day and night, at a Glafs-houfe Furnace, for 
N the fpace of a month, the Gold at the end of tlut 
time was found to have loft nothing at all of its 
weight ;* but the Silver to have diminiftied almoll 
a fixty-fourth part. But Ifaac Hollandus pro- 
ceeds in a different manner : He puts the CiJx of 
Gold, made either by means of Aqua regia or 
Mercury, into an open veflel, and continues it for 
three months or more in a fmall degree of con- 
ftant ignition, or a little greater heat than is re- 
quired in order to melt Lead ; by which means 
he declares the Gold will be reduced to a fpongy 
impalpable Calx, tha.tforits bulk is very light j 
according to what, from Kunkely &c. we for- 
merly obferv'd of Iron i tho this requires a diffe- 
rent degree of heat +. 
. From this Calx Hollandus undertakes by bare 
Sublimation to feparate a certain kind of vola- 
tile A flies, that is eafily brought into running 
Mercury ; and from the Subftance remaining 
at the bottom ^fter the Sublimation, he un- 
dertakes by the means of Vinegar to prepare a 
faline body, which upon various operations will 
turn into a red Liquor. But the Experiments 
themfelves we recommend to farther curiofity 
and experience. The Problem of Kurtkel how- 
ever may give fome light to both cafes, I: 



* Obfcrv^t. de Princip. ChenvX;^^*'^*^^?-'^'' 
^^ePartl. §.1,5.18. 



^.f Malleable Earths orMatals. 

i cfpccially the firft, where he propofes to reduce 
or feparate Gold into a mercurial red, ftyptic 
and truly acid, or a white earthy and vitri- , 
fiable fubftance •, but whether the Solution of. 
this Problem agrees with thofe operations of 
Hollandus^ as well with regard to the means as 
the effe6k, muft be the bufinefs of longer time 
to determine t . 

90. Under thefe preparations of Gold may 77 
likcwife be ranked that elegant phsenomenon ob- *jj 
ferved by Langelot^ as to the trituration of Gold ; % 
of which he gives an ample account in his Wri- 
tings II . This one particular is very remarka- 
able, .that the Trituration in this cafe is much 
better performM by a light than a ftrong mo- 
tion of the peflle, artd better by a gentle than 
a violent agitation ; becaufe, if Leaf-Gold be 
taken for the fubjeft, a hard triture would ra- 
ther colle6t or roll it up into a mafs, than grind 
it to fine atoms. 

But the caufe of. the attenuation that re- 
fults upon this Operation is to little purpofe 
operofely deduced from the Air or the Saliva 
here added to the Gold ; but may be rather 
commodioully a,flrigned from the fimple con- 
trituration, on account as well of the tenuity 
as the fluidity introduced by the manner of 
the operation ; for it is rational to expeft that 
by fuch a triture the particles thus ground 
together, (hou'd at the fame time be thenee 
brought into a round figure ; but all exceed- 
ingly fmall bodies, the nearer they approach 

to 



i See Ifaac Holland, dc Olcis 8c Salib. Mctallor. 8c KunUtL 
^^iervat. Cap. 7. 



J Malleable Earths or Metals. Part It 

to fphericity, the eafier they are moved, and 
the nearer they come to fluidity ; whence in 
this trituration arife the phaenomena of unc- 
tuofity, and foirie degree of volatility. 

But there te anbther pha^nomenon occurring 
under this operation, which deferves to be ftllJ 
farther recommended to the obfcrvation of the 
curious i viz. that the Gold thus ground yields 
the fmell of Sulphur: which phaenomenon as 
highly deferving to be fairly and fully exa- 
mined, we earneftly recommend to the curio- 
fity and diligence of fuch as have the opportu- 
nity, the leifure, and the purfc for it. 

p*4fi»- 91. But of the various Methods of treating 
^ j^^ Gold hitherto mentioned, all Chemifts and Arti- 
»*, •r ficers unanimoufly agree that the Gold is not ef- 
2i fentially refoVd thereby ; for altho* it may hence 
'f acquire different modifications as to colour, te- 
nuity, and confidence 5 yet all thefe depend not 
upon any analyfis of the parts of Gold, but from 
the adhefion of various heterogeneous bodies fu- 
perinduced upon the Metal •, fo that when thefe 
bodies come to be again feparated from it, the 
Gold inftantly appears again m all its natural pro- 
perties: unlefs we are here tp except the particu- 
lar cafes lately mentioned ; where experience feems 
to fhew the contrary *. 

Another Method has been therefore fought 
after, whereby Gold might be more intimate- 
ly diffolved, and its extraction performM with 
bodies fuitable to its own metallic nature. 
,' With this particular view Gold has been vari- 
'oufly macerated^ as they term it, in Mercurial 
• SubjeiJSy either of a dry, or a fluid andhur 
f onfiftence ; which at fir ft refolve it fo ligb 



♦ &cf.8(y^87,8cc. of tHu Sc&m. 



§4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

that it paiTes almoft into their owa confiftence, 
tenuity, and volatility j but fo as that with 
rime it conies to aflimilate chefe properties to 
itfclf, and, more or lefs, converts them into 
its own fubflance. But of this fubjeft we (hall 
treat more fully in our Supplement *. 

92. It deferves to be here obferv^d, in Ihort, J^ 
what the Adepts commonly underftood by Pbiio-pi 
fophical Goldy which they require for the fermen-«* 
cation of their Mercury. And, indeed, they 
mean no more by it than Gold moft highly fub- 
tilized, and brought to a degree of fermentative 
mobility 5 fo that being mix'd with pure running 
Mercury, it may by degrees aflimilate the par- 
ticles thereof to itfelf, and at length reduce the 
whole mafs to a due degree of fpiflitude •, whence 
the Mercury alfo may, in time, become true 
Gold ; which, the* fofter than the common, is 
yet like it, in fuftaining ail the Proofs whereby 
iheconftancy of that is examined f. 

The primary efFeft therefore of this Pbilo^ ^* 
fopbical Gold y being the affimilation of Mer-2! 
cury ; we wou*d here recommend the Pro- JJ 
ceffcs formerly advanced for the tranfmuta- 
tion of Mercury into the fubftance of Gold^ 
by Digeftion, with that Metal highly fubti- 
liz*d II ; which, if in any meafure found to 
fucceed upon experience, the Gold fo procu- 
red, may very well be cfteem'd the true Pbi^ 
lofopbical Gold. 

93. There are indeed many enigmatical tra- 
ditions, contradictory accounts, and mutual con- 
futations, found among the Writers in Alchemy, 

of 



f *^ f . 5/. of this Scaioa. ^ Sct^» \%^ ^^ ^^>^^ 



Malleable Earths or Metals,Vzxx,\l. 

of this Pbilofopbkal Gold% with regard to all 
which, we have two things to obferve, ( i .) That 
the greateft of thofe wlio have written upon this 
fobjeft, either did not uhderftand it themfelves, 
and fo only indulged their own fancies in deli- 
vering their confufcd Notions about it ; or if 
they did underftand it, they were very defeftive 
as to the chemical and phyfical reafons of the 
thing : whence they commonly form'd very bad 
arguments and falfe conclufions, by miftaking 
the true caufes, inftead whereof they have only 
affign*d and dwelt upon trifling and fallacious 
reafonings, very remote from the purpofe, whilft 
they took fuch alone for the principal and ge- 
nuine reafons of things; under which notion, 
they alfo put them oft to others, (2 .) That moft 
of thefe Writers, but efpccially thole who know 
kail of the matter, are aftuated by an idle, fu- 
perftitious fear, left a thing fo very capable of 
doing mifchief, in bad hands, fhou*d be too 
clearly delivered and thrown before the vulgar •, 
to the equal advantage of the worthy and un- 
worthy : to prevent which fad effeft, they ftu- 
dioully and foUicitoufly, not only maim and mu- 
tilate the clear Oracles of the ingenuous Authors 
' or acknowledged poflcflbrs of the Secret ; but 
alfo openly confute them, the more effeftually to 
puzzle the unworthy reader. 

And from this Fountain it is, that fuch nu- 
. merous Contentions have arifen about the Phi- 
lofophical Menjlruums in the humid fFay \ of 
which in reality we are to obferve, that they 
are all founded in Becher^s Mercuriffmg Eartk 
whether the Operation be praftifed upon Ac 
Saliva, Urine, common Salt,, or the Sal' 
Dew, Rain, Snow j or Sal-ammoniac, 
.^ . Spirit of Salt, Soot, and Tartar •, or laftb 
/ on Butter of Antu\\OT\^> oit\\\R.^^^ 



{.4* Malleable Earths or Metals. %i\ 

zoardic Spirit arifing bi the preparation of 
Bezoar-mineral. 

The Error of the greatcft part lies here, 
that men, thro' the vain and groundlefs con- 
ceit of a myftcry, believe the Art itfclf foun- 
ded partly upon Avarice, and partly upon 
a perfuafion of a ftupcndous ad of tnuifmuta- 
rion, which Nature does not allow of; and 
laftly, that there can be no more than one 
fingle way to obtain this end Which indeed is 
true, with regard to the EJfence of the Means 
required ; but utterly falfe with regard to the 
various modifications of that EJfence : whence 
two (landing Methods have been generally 
propofed and eflablilhed; viz. the bumidj and 
the dry. 

For my own part, I prefer the dry Method 
to the humid one\ and efteem Pbilaletba^ 
Sucbten and Claveus^ as the capital, or only 
Authors, required in this bufinefs : but more 
particularly 1 wou'd recommend the Treatife 
of Pbilalelbaj caVitd Inlroitus apertus^ to thofc 
who have any curiofity this way -, at the fame 
time advifing them to confidcr what we have 
formerly faid of the Sulpbur ofGold^ as no tri- 
fling Matter*. 

SILVER. 

94- Silver^ in conftancy and durability, comes sum^ 
next to Gold ; and dcferves to be held in grcater^^^JJ^J^ 
efteem than that, as being fitter for fevcral ufes^c^^^ 
Iwhupon account of its larger bulk in the fame . 
qwantity or weight, and its fuperior hardncfs. 
Stiver is an exceeding white Metal, firm 

and confiderably hard, that yields a found, and 

* See ^. at| t «, tec. of this ScAion. 

Y is 



Malleable Earths or Mefak Part IL 

is not eafily deftroycd by a ftrong Fire of Fu- 
fion i tho* it has but about half the fpccific 
Gravity of G^W. 

\hM- 9'5* The ufe of this Metal is either mechanical, 
^»» and thence oeconomical, oi* medicinaf, as well as 

dire&ly chemical. 
f^r* The Mechanic forms it into various kinds of 

f'^f' Vcffels, Plate and Wire, to which purpofes 
there are two principal Operations fubfer- 
vient •, VIZ. its Fufton and Mixture with other 
. Metals. 
t it Its Fufton^ or fimple melting, has no diffi- 

culty \ only if any thing, as particularly a 
fulphureous Vapour, fhou'd, by mixing along 
with it, have rendered it brittle or lefs mal- 
leable, than it is required \ it may be redu- 
ced to a compleat duftility, and foftnefs, by 
adding a little Nitre in the fufion, after the 
fame manner as was mentioned of Gold to 
make it tough *. 



Am 



"D* 



(^(>^ As to the Commixture of 5i7i;^r with other 
vitb Metals, Copper is ufually made choice of for 
this purpofe •, tho* fome in its ftead ufe Brafs, as 
this may be mix'd in a larger proportion with 
the o\lvtr^ and yet not betray its colour upon the 
Touch-ftonc. Some alfo employ blanched Copper 
for this end -, but both the Brafs and the blanched 
Copper render the Silver brittle ; which Tin alfo 
does in a very high degree : fo that one part 
thereof, fhall render a hundred parts of Sxl'^tr 
unfit for the hammer. And Regulus of Anti- 
mony has the fame efFedt in a greater degree, 
tho* ufcd in a ftill lefs quantity. But Lead 

grca* 



* 5cc f .7j, of this Scfttoa. 



§4^ Malleable Earths or Metals. 

greatly dulls the found of Silver, and vitiates its 
colour, 

97. An Opinion hasprcvaiPd in Medicine^ that fr^ 
Silver is a cephalic Metal \ upon this account^ "^ 
that a blue Tindture extrafted from it< has been * 
found of fome ufe, or productive of fome good 
etfeft in the Epilepfy i whence alfo the Mercury 

if Silver has been recommended as a Very cet- 

tain remedy in that diftemper. 

But as this blue Ttn5lutediot% not proceed 
from the pure Silver^ but from a fmall por^ 
tion of the Copper ftill adhering to it, the ef- 
feft it produces in Medicine, is unjuftly attri- 
buted to the Silver. Whence we may form 
fome judgment as to the ftreft to be laid upon 
fotahU Siheri and other medicinal prepara-* 
tions of that Metal *• 

98. The more curious chemical ufe of Silver^ ^^^^ 
has a particular regard to Imbibitions^ and the i/; 
Corporifications or Confirmations of the. very fub- 
tile atoms of Gold; whence proceed thofe Me- 
thods already mentioned for the incorporation or 
introduction of Gold •, as alfo, for the fixatory 
Cementation of Cinnabar f •, of kin to which al- 
fo are thofe procefles which Becher^ in his Mine^ 
ra Airenaria^ produces from Lull'j (]. 

To this head likewife belongs that curious % 
Phasnomcnon, called the Arbor Diance^ or^. 
Pbilofopbical Tree^ which is made in this man- hi 
ner. Diflblve a quantity of Silver in Jqua 
fortiSy and mix the Solution with three or four 
times its quantity of common Water j then put 
into it fo much well cleanfed Mercury, as to 
Y 2 equal 

^ See f . 106. of this Scdion. 
t See Cinndbar under the head of Snllknt, 
U Miacr, Arenu, pag.S^JitCQ. 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II; 

equal the weight of the Silver cmploy'd \ and 
let them be (hook together for fome time in a 
round glafs veffcl, the orifice thereof being 
ftoppM with the finger ; then fetting the veffel 
to reft in a quiet place, a body will grow up 
therein, refembling the branches of a Tree. 
But fome advife here to ufe Mercury firft dif. 
folved in Aqua for tis^ infteadof the common*. 
There is another known and curious chemi- 
cal ufe of Silver in the Amalgamation of the 
Martial Regulus of Antimony with Mercury ; 
which we have above delivered in treating of 

* . Mercury t. There is another too, which we 
: have there likewife touched upon, in order to 

the exhibition of the golden fubftance in ani- 
. mated Mercury \ as alfo, in treating of the 
Sulphur of Metals ||. . 

COPPER AND IRON. 

^nd ! 99' Thofe two of the imperfeft Metals, Cop- 
rfy per and Iron^ have a great relation to each o- 
ther •, for, that Copper may be made from Iron^ 
we find confirmed by vulgar Experience 5 and 
that, viceverfa^ Iron may, by art, be made in- 
to Copper^ is a point maintainM and fupported by 

• Becber. Be this as it will, 'tis certain that fome 
of their Preparations co-incidc \ particularly their 
Calcination and Vitriolization. 

f- T\\t\v Calcination is thus performM by the 

f'^ means of Sulphur. Thin Plates of either Me- 
tal being cut to the fize of the veffel, are al- 
ternately ftrew'd and interfpers'd with Sul- 
phur i then the veffel being clofe fliut up, 'tis 

dc- 



• The whole bufincfs of this Philofophical Tree, is fin 
profcrutcd by M. Homberg, and others, in the Ften^h Mem© 
f See ^. 38. of this Scaion, 
// S9e f. js, 3 j,&c. of xh\s Scftiw* 



j4. Malleable Earth or Met ah. i%i 

detained in a moderate heati fufRcient to make 
theSulphur Sow commodioufly for fome hours \ 
but at laft the lire is increafed To as to ignite 
the veffei : which being afterwards broke, and 
the light fpungy friable matter taken out and 
reduced to powder, it is for a quarter of an 
hour kept gently ignited, and continually 
ftirr'd, by which means the fulfburatcd Crocus 
of Iron or Cofp^r is obtain*d. 

This Operation may be made to fucceed the ^•.•Jf 
fafter, with a larger quantity of Sulphur, if alTJiism 
confiderable part thereof be permitted to fly 
off before the efFeft is procured. Thus the 
metalline Plates being moderately ignited, 
and little pieces of Sulphur thrown in upon 
them, the Copper will be prefcntly corroded or 
changed, but the /r(?» fomewhat flower •, the 
former into a half vitrified Scoriae, and the 
latter into a porous fubfl:ance, refcmbling a 
Pumice. And the fame thing happens, if Sul- 
phur be barely fprinkled or rubb'd upon either 
Metal, in a ftate of ftrong ignition ; for thus 
a large part of their furface wou'd imme- 
diately be corroded, and might, by a ftroke 
of the hammer, be readily made to fcale off; 

The bufinefsis performed with greateft:eafc-<fii^«ii 
by mixing iineljr granulated Copper^ or fmallf^'^ 
Filings of Irony with four times their weight of . 
powder'd Sulphur, and throwing them, by a 
fpoon-fuU at a time, into a crucible, made of 
a dull red heat *, by which means the little 
. black mafs will boil up, and foon appear high- 
ly ignited at the fides: thb ignition will, 
by degrees, cover over the whole mafs •, which, 
when that is over, again appears fomewhat 
dark, and may then be loofen'd and taken 
out, with a fpatula or ladle s and a frefli par- 
cel thrown ia - 

Yj TK<i 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part IL 

The Calcination of thcfe Metals likewife fuc* 
'tl ceeds with Antimony, and yellow Arfenic, ufed 
7 inftead of common Sulphur •, of which both 
'* thofe minerals partake : but both of them ad- 
here more tenacioufly than that to either Metal, 
but cfpecially to Copper. 

As for the Calcination of thefe Metals iv^ 
naked Fire^ we have formerly fpoken of if, 
to which we therefore refer*. 

100. We are next to confider the manner of 
//# Calcining t\it{t Metals hy Salts^ wherewith they 
are turn'd into Vitriols. 

Thefe Salts are principally the three Mineral 
ones, viz. t\\t Acids of Sulphur^ Nitre zn^ com- 
mon Salt ; after which comes fecondarily the 
Vegetable Acids of Vinegar and the acid Spirits 
ef fVocds. 
g^^^ The Acid of Sulphur^ like that of Nitre or 

the common Salt^ is either poured upon thefe Mc- 
^"^" tals in its ieparate State, viz. in the form 
of Oleum Sulphur is per Campanam ; or elfe 
the Metals are expofed to it in the aft of its 
Separation. The firft Method requires no art i 
but the Litter fuppofes the following Theory* 
The Acidh nor obtainable from Sulphur with- 
out burning. The Filings therefore,or rather the 
fulphurated Crocus of either Metal,being mix'd 
with about an eighth or a tenth part of frefli 
Sulphur,is to be detain-dovera very gentle heat, 
juft fo as to keep the Sulphur in a fluid and 
burning ftate. Or the fame Crocus being mix*d 
with a new proportion of Sulphur, may be 
thrown into an ignited veflel, as in its original 
preparation ; and when the Sulphur is bur ^ 
away, the little remaining mafs is to be tali 



f^cc Parr I. §.2. ^.ly. 



J.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

out and powdered, pd afterwards created with 
a (low light ignition, that is not fufficientto 
melt it, and this for the fpace of about half 
an hour in a veflel with a flat bottom, the mat- . 
ter not being now ftirr'd all the while. At 
length the ignited Calx is to be diredly thrown 
into hot Water, and fufFer'd to remain there 
for a night *, the liquor being filtred the nexC 
morning. By thb means, if the procefs be 
often enough repeated, with the addition of a 
little frc(h Sulphur at times, the Water will at 
length become fufficiently impregnated for in- 
fpiifation, and cryftallization. But obferve 
that after each elixation the remaining Crocu$ 
is always to be new pulverized. And the Salt 
obtainM in this manner by cryftallization, is 
ailed the Vilriol of Copper or Iron *. 

1 01. The Vitriol of Copper is eafily converted Ti 
into the Vilriol of Iron. The Method of doing ^, 
it, is to boil the Vitriol of Copper in Water, and »« 
keep every now and then throwing into the So-'" 
lution a quantity of the Filings of Iron \ till the 
liquor not only gains afweet tafte, and lofes its 
aftringent one ; but till a poli(h*d plate of Iron 
being detained in it for a quarter of an hour, will 
not thence acquire a copper colour orcruft. 

102. Both thefe Metals dX^oivt in Aqua fortis^ ^ 
but with this difference, that C^/)/)tfr makes a ^/^; 
green, but Iron a very red Solution therewith : fort 
Whence Copper by evaporation affords a green 
3alt, particularly mentioned by Becberfi and 
^ron a red mais that runs in the Air. 

Silver likewife, as every body knows, is 

diffolved by Jqua fort is ; but there' is this 

difference between its Solution and thofc of 

Y 4 Copper 

* See the head of rarioL 

f Pbyfic. Subtcrran. pag. jyS, 559. 



B Malleable Earths or Metals. Partll. 

Copper and Iron \ that being evaporated to a 
third or farther, the Silver now (hoots with 
the remainder of the Apia forth into more 
fixMCryftals, that do not readily relent in the 
Air, 

• r/. 103. Both of them likcwife are foluble in 
&ir^ /'iw^^^r, tho* again with fome difference. 
w«. The Filings of Iron being digefted with 

ten times their quantity of diftillM Vinegar^ 
till the Iron is totally or in great part diffolvcd, 
the Solution becomes of a faccharine fweetnefs, 
or if not, it muft be farther faturated with a 
new addition of Filings. Then the Solution 
' being diftill'd in Balneo till only a third or a 
'j. fourth part remains behind, this is to be 
poured, whilft hot, into a vial, the mouth 
whereof being clofcd, the matter muft be fuf- 
fer*d tocoolflowly -, after which being fct in 
a Cellar, it will in a few days time fhoot into 
Cryftals, called by the name of 5^// of Steel \ 
from which the liquor is to be poured, and the 
Cryftals loofen'd with an Iron-wire^ and af- 
terwards geritly dry *d upon Paper, for ufe, 

Bm Copper being either granulated, thinly 
plated or reduced to Filings, and treated with 
dtftiWd Vinegar in the fame manner, affords 
Cryftals of a colour betwixt a blue and a green. 

er,M» 104. The manner of preparing Verdigreafe 
/^J^^from Copper is. a known thing, and ftands dc- 
'f cribed at large by Zwelfer * \ to whom we there- 
fore refer : on|v obferving that the whole affair 
depends entirely upon this, that the Plates of the 
Metal be corroded and concentrated withth^ 
fubtilc acid Spirit of the Marc, or Grape-flc' 

wl 



* in Refocation.Tachcmu 



J.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

i^hich after the Mufti$exprcfs'd, come to yield 

an acid odour. 
105. Iron of the two affords the morecon-^^ 

fidcrablc Preparations for medicinal ufe : a great ! 

number of EJfences from this Metal being com- i 

monly handed about ; tho* all of them nothing 

clfc but more or lefs attenuated Solutions 

thereof. 

The more common and more ufcful of thefe 
Preparations are the following, (i.) The Fi- 
lings of Iron being boiled for fome time in a 
dofe veffel, with the Juice of Quinces and ^ 
litde Water 5 or with a little Tartar and a 
large proportion of Water, and the boiling in 
the latter cafe being continued for ten or twelve 
hours, a black Decoftion will be obtained ; 
which is to be filtred and prcferv'd, as it were, 
by the addition of Spirit of Wine. But thofe 
who infpiffate thefe Decodions, and afterwards 
attempt to make Extraftions thereof, not with 
an aqueous Menftruum, but rcdified Spirit of 
Wine, proceed quite upon a wrong Foundation. 
(2,) There are other medicinal Preparations ot 
Iron in the form of Powders, and called Cro^ 
cujjes i one whereof is termed the ajlringent 
Crocus^ and another the aperitive Crocus of Iron ; 
the firft being obtain'd by barely reverberating 
the Metal in a naked fire, or calcinuig it as it 
were to allies j and the fecond by moiftcning 
the Iron with Vinegar ; or by Sulphuration *. 

•Tis to be obferved of all thefe Preparations,* 
that the more they are faturated with the 
Acids that adhere tenacioufly thereto, the 
niore aperitive, refolutive and abfterfive they 
become. And the fame thing happens if they 

meet 

* Sec 9bovc f . f OQ. Sec alfo BoerUAW% CVxtm, ?T^£i« 



p Malleable Earths or Metals, Part II. j 

I 

meet with any acid crudities in the Body ; \ 
which turn them into the like vitriolic Sub- : 
ftance. But when lefs impregnated with Acids, I 
or only with the acid of common Salt, and ! 
they remain in the body, they always prove 
aftringent. And hence in a bad habit, the ; 
aftringent Crocus Martis may prove aperitive \ 
and thus become a proper remedy in fcorbuti- 
cal, but efpecially in hypochondriacal cafes. 

jn^^/. . 1 06. The medicinal Preparations from Copper 
' ^^ f are principally deftin'd to external ufes. Thus thq 
mimi •/ ^^ itjtum^ Copper calcin*d/)<?r yj*, or by bare Re- 
verberation, and Verdigreafe, are chiefly em- 
ployed as Septics, or ingredients for deterging 
.Unguents ; to the more capital whereof, they 
ferve as the bafis-, viz. the Unguentum Jpojfolo- 
rum J jEgyftiacumj ^nd Unguentumfufcu?n fVurtzii. 
And from the fame origin proceeds the Aqua 
Sappbirinaj or blue Water of the Chirurgeons, 
which they ufe by way of injeftion in cafe offer- 
did Ulcers. But they take care that none of thefc 
Preparations with Copper come at the Bones*, 
which would eafily be corroded thereby. 

The more fubtile Solutions of Copper made 
with a vinous Spirit of Sal-ammoniac, and han- 
ded about under the famous notion of the 97;/- 
£lures of Silver^ have been fometimes found fer- 
viceable in Epileptic cafes. But the coarfer 
Solutions of Copper ought never to be ufed in* 
ternally, becaufe fo greatly difpofed tocaufc 
naufea, vomiting, erofions of the Stomach 
and Inteftines, diarrhoea's, the hiccup, and 
cardialgia's. 



o" 



/ri»rc«- 107. A Rnc cupreous Subjlance^ or Copper 
!^f* ^ ^%^h ^tl^n^^^^d^ of which fuch great thir 
I. fkid, both in Chemiftry audMtd\w' 



j^ Malleable Earths or Metals. 

in crude Iron, its fulphurated Crocus, but particu- 
larly in Vitriol. This fine Subftance Helmont took 
for the Foundation of Butler's Stone^ Marcms 
Uani for the univeifai Medicine, and others for 
the Sulphur of Gold, or the Sulphur of Philo- 
fopbcrs, iXc. 

They procure it from thefe Subjedb by 
Sublimation with Sal-ammoniac 5 whence the 
Ens Feneris of Mr. Boy Uy or i\),tfecret Venereal 
. Fire of Helmont * : But fome fuppofe it lodg'd 
tQ bell advantage in the Salt of VitrioU that 
is cxtraAed from it after the difrillation of the 
Spirit and fome part of the Oilf, 

108. There is another curious ufe of Iron in^ 
Chemijtryj when *tis applied to the Separation of^ 
other Metals in fufion, from the fulphureous he- 
terogeneous matters that might adhere to them ; 
thus it ferves to free „the Regulus of Antimony 
from its fuperfluous Sulphur, and feparates iSilver 
pure from any admixture of Antimony of Sul- 
phur. Befides which, it is alfo of farther ufe in 
the fixation and graduation of Silver, and even 

in the exaltation of Gold itlelf; as may becol- 
kfted from what we have already faid upon this 
head, in treating of the Sulphur of Metals, and 
thcbufinefs of Gradation ||. 

109. Copper is fophifticated various ways, foco 
as to make it refemble the colours of Silver and ^ 
Gold. The common fophifticating Method of>« 
blanching it, is principally founded upon the ad- '^ 
mixture of Arfenic, firft fixM with Nitre. For «- 
mftance, fuppofe they melt four ounces of Cop- 
K into this they throw half an ounce of Ar- 
<^nic, fix'd by being previoufly melted with 

Nitre, 

* SccViwniMedul.Chym.pag-y, 6»7, in&]Ucl»fr^vai« 
/ SecBichir. Cdncord. Chym, m Owicotd, Vim^.v^^v^. 



Malleable Earths or Metals, Pait IL 



f 



Nitre, and brought into a ball or two with fome 
fufible Mud and Lime-water. Thefe they let - 
flow together, with care to prevent any coals I 
from falling into the veffcl, for a quarter of an ' 
hour ; then pouring out the matter, they try \ 
it upon the Touch* ftone, asalfo upon the anvil, \ 
to fee if it be white and malleable. If they find ' 
it fufRciently foft, theyreferve it for ufe •, but if 
brittle, they again melt it for a while, along ■ 
with a little Nitre or Venice Glafs. And if the 
Copper thus blanched be mix*d with a half or a 
third part of pure Silver, itpreferves a very good 
colour in wearing. 

Thofe Methods of blanching Copper are of a 
moro^curious nature, which may be attempted, 
according to the direftion of J5^r/;^r *, with 
the Earth of Salt of Tartar^ thus. Stratify 
any quantity of Copper-plates with half their ; 
weight of the Earth of red Tartar \ which ; 
has been firft extracted with Vinegar, and . 
freed from the Salt •, tho* this not totally, but [ 
only by a fingle afFufion, Let them be kept | 
ignited together, in a clofe veflel, for the fpacc 
of five days and nights; then take out the \ 
matter and commit it to the Cupel. 

To this purpofe it ought to be recollected j 
what BtY)&^r fomewhere obferves fas to this ' 
Earth of Tartar^ viz. that being melted along 
with Gold, it gives a whitenefs thereto, that 
is not eafily got off again. And in another 
place he cxprefly declares, what is the real 
Subftance and Ufe of this Earth ||. 

Becber has another curious Method of hUnch- 
ingCopperj which he delivers with an affurarice 



♦ Sec Bechn. Concord. Chym. pag. ^76, j?*' 
&40. 
t Phyfic. Subtcrran. 8c£3t,V • Ci.V^'V*^ 
// Sec riiyfic.Suburt9La* Scfit^N . Ca^^ 



^ Malleable Earths or Metals. 

u again lee go the Subftance it had imbibed i 
»( which by fiifion now becomes white Goldy 
« that may be perfected by Gradation *." 

112. Tne other general Method of difguiJingA 
flf fophifticating Capper^ regards the intro^uftion g^ 
of %)ellm) mour^ whereby it is made to rcfem* 
ble Gold. And this is vulgarly eSefted by means 
dthcCadmia Plumbacea^ Calamy, or Lapis Ca^ 
kminaris \ in the way of Caementation, or intro- 
ducing it into the Metal by fufion. In which 
cafe 'tis remarkable, that the Calamy^ tho* it be 
neither a complcat metallic body of it felf, nor 
malleable ; yet concretes along with the Co^er^ 
fo as very confiderably to increafe its weight, 
and at the fame tin>e extend with it under the 
hammer. Whence the art of making Brafs. 

Something of the fame nature is likewile 
cffedcd by Ztnk^ tho* this gives the Copper a 
much more beautiful colour than the Calamy s 
and thus becomes the foundation of what they 
vulgarly call Bath or Princess MetaU &c. 

But for the more durable and permanent 
TmRures cither of Copper^ or to be obtained 
from Copper^ there are feveral Experiments of 
Becber^ which well deferve to be try'd and 
examined f. 

113. Sieel is a capital Preparation from Iron ; ^ 
being thence obtained either by a violent ignition ^ 
v^iiclofe place > or elfe by a violent aementalion 
'J^ilbJjhes. 

If a large mafs, or block of good malle- ^ 
able Iron be put into a vehement Fire, fo as to ^ 
become ftrongly ignited, or tofuch a degree r* 
that the Metal runs like water from its Surface, '"^ 

and 

tScc Concord. Chym.de Autuaoa* y^^.^\6« l^'^ \V 
^iSj dc Cupr. ptg, ^71, 70^ d**. 



> Malleahle Earths or MetakV^xtll 

and the operation be continued till almoft half 
the body of the Iron is wafted j and the re^ 
rnainder be now taken ouc^ this will prove 
* 1 Steel. 
,f^^ The reafon of this Operation is the fame, 
— as if it had been performed in a clofe place • 
or as if the Iron had been burnt in occlufo \ 
forwhilft the Metal is externally urged with a 
moft intenfc heat, fo as even to make k run, 
the internal parts are all that time vehemently 
burnt, as it were in occlufo. 

fithod 1 14. *Tis a vulgarly known Method of har- 
'iron' dening Iron^ which ispraftifed among the Smiths, 
nwte. Saw-makers, 6?r. with the hoofs^of Beafts ; viz. 
by rubbing the ignited Metal upon them j which 
being leveral times repeated, the Iron is thus 
rendcr*d almoft brittle. The fame thing is, with 
little difference, praftifed in the making or har- 
dening feveral forts of Tools and Inftruments of 
Iron i fuch as Files, Knives, Chizzles, Gravers, 
&c. viz. when the Tools are formed, they ftra- 
tify them with afhes, the (havings of hoofs and 
glafs, and fo csement them in a clofe place or 
veflel J which among the workmen is called 
cafe-bardening of them. And after the fame 
manner, if /r^/i be intenfely heated and quenched ; 
in good Vinegar, it will by repeating this opera- 
tion, become .perfeftly friable *. 
•f^f" 115. On the other hand, /r^« becomes fofter 
^^' by a more gentle and longer continued igni- 
r>f. tion 5 whereby it acquires a kind of fpunginefs, 
which however is again condenfed, upon quench- 
ing the Metal in Water. But to render kftUl 
more foft and duftle, the way is to quench it 
in a decoftion of animal excrements, eit 



^cWcdd.Pharroacop. U\)A. ^&*<^ 



r 



j.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 3^ 

ihofe of Men or Brutes, in Urine, the Juice of 
Onions, or the like ; by which means Inn may 
be io mollified, as to become fit for the Graven 

116. We cannot quit this hmclQ of Copper ^i^^ ^ 
and Iron^ without recommending for a grahatvg -»'■'.»>' 
Glafs^ l\\t\v fulphurated Crocvjfs^ or thtOreo/SMl' 
Imh melted along with Licharge and Flint, or 
Minium or Gerufe, and the Pyrites, or elfe 
along with River Sand, into a black Glafsj which 

in licde fragments appears of a brownifh colour. 
Examples of this matter arc to be found in Be-- 
cber *• We only recommend it to the curious 
Inquirer in this affair to be careful, (i,) that 
he procure a fufficiently thin fufion to his Gla/s i 
and, (2.) that he fufFer it to flow long enough 
with the more moveable Metal i and if it fliou'd 
grow thick, that he dilute it again with a frelh 
addition 5 and thus artificially affift and promote 
the continuation of a thin fufion, for the due 
length of time. Which Obfervations being 
carefully attended to, and well underftood, and 
praftifed ; 'tis poflible that no part of the 
World wouM have reafon to complain for thd* 
want of Gold Mines, at home. 

TINyfJV^DLEAD, 

' i 

117. As Tin and Lead differ very confiderably Tin ^m 
from one another, 'twill be beft to treat of tliem H^*/'- 
a-part. • 

7/;nsa white, (lick, earthy, and as it were Tin /j^ 
glaffy Metal^ that foon burns to alhes in thc^^^'^' 
Fire -, after which *tis found very hard to re- 
duce into any other Subftance, !t 

* See Concord. Chvm. in Coocord. Part, cum Pirt. pag. 
J.»* N«.i8. Conbord. XII. pag. 611. N*.67.68, 6j. «c 

•7 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Partll 

•/• It has hitherto been known, and employM 

rather for (economical thin any medicinal or 
. cbemkal ufes ; tho* of late indeed it has'been 

found no way unfitYor the purpofes of fnedieine 

and cbemiftry. 
Ar. For fome mechanical purpofes, it is burnt to an 

^' j^Jbj called Puity \ a thing much ufed.in the 

finifhing or polifhing of Gems or precious 

Stones. 

This Putty is likewife of ufe in preparing the 

white Enamels of the Jeweller -, being for that 
purpofe mix'd with Venice-Glafs^ and flux'd 
with Minium : tho' the Ttn-afh does not vitrify 
Sxi this cafe ; but only, intermixes in form of 
a'^^fine powdry^ matter among the Glafs, fo as 
to fhew its own white colour tliercin much 
purer, or to better advantage, whereby it pro- 
duces a kind of milky Glafi^ that appears 
fomewhat tranfparent. The rcquifue attenua- 
tion of this AJhy and confequently its greater 
diffufion in the Glafs^ is promoted by the vi- 
trifying Minium or Vitrum Saturniy which as 

.it. reifolves all the other imperfeft Metals, fo 
does it this JJh alfo to a great degree of Sub- 
tilty, 

edict' 1 1 8 . This Metal has been introduced into Afif- 
^^* dicine principally by Poteriusj who prepared his 
mm AntiheSlicum thereof ; viz. by mixing and melt- 
^* ing it along with an equal quantity of Regulus 
of Antimony ; then grinding the mafs, fulmina- 
ting it with thrice its weight of Nitre, and laftly 
edulcorating it; and thus he recommends it as a 
very particular antiliedic Medicine ; to which 
however there are fome who add a proportion ot 
I^ead in the preparation. 
uu 119. Myn/ubt alfo recommends the 5^ 
^f^j? ^^ ^^^ ^ Specific agavrvft the Co' ' " 



§4« MaUeable Earths or Metak. 33 

fiiranexccllair Andhvftenci whidi be prqwcs 
bjr pouring diftiird Vincgir upoo the Ca£r or 
Afbes^ Tin^ then digcfiing and boiling oftfaan 
together, for fome dme, and at length fikring 
die. &>lutioo, when it bis acquired thetafteof 
Saribamm Saiifrni. This Sedation is aftenraids 
diftiU'd in ifalKto to a third, and die remainder 
rcmoircd, in the diftillingrefl^ to a CicILir.wiiere 
it is to (land for fooie days ; and thus it will fhooc 
into Crjrftals that are to be collcded and gentlr 
dqr^d Or elfe the Solution beii^ augulato^ 
and the renuining matter gently calcinrd under a 
Muffle, the Calx is ag;un diilblved in diftill'd 
Vin^r, and afterwards cryftallizcd. 

120. There arc three principal chemical tifes ^y 
of this Metal ; viz. (i.) in the preparaion ofMr> 
thefffioakwg Spirii -, and the Mercurial O'ds^ fer'^^^ 
ieliqu'tumj (2.) In the reduction of Ltcma Comua^ 
or Silver nude volatile with Regulus erf Anti- 
mony ; and, (2.) in Cajjiu^% Utc difcovcry of 
precipitating Gold. 

Of the fivjl of thefe we have alrcadv trea- 
ted under the article of Spirit of Salt * ; and 
not only the procefe thereof is found in Or^ 
fcbalf^ and likewifd in Caffiusl ; but alfo 
the third particular is clearly delivered by them 
both. 

The fecond likewife we have lately had occa- 
fion to mention under the aiticle of blanching 
Cojfer % ; but more may be read about the 
manner of reducing Silver volatilized by* Re- 
gulus of Antimony, in Becber's Rofetum Cby 
micum**. But it muft be recommended to 
Z 2 far- 

• Sec pag. 118, 119. • 

J Sol line Vefte, Exp. 19. pag. 3 f • 
Traaat.de Auro. 
t Sec ^. 109. of this Seftion. 



> Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II, 

farther experience, whether and how far there 
is any real fixation of the Mercury effefted by 
this or the like commixture of Tin \ fuch as 
that for inftance delivered in Dighy*s medicinal 
Experiments * -, where under the Title of a 
good fx\i Diaphoretic^ viz. that of the Earl 
of Oxfordy we are dircdted, *' to mix equal 
. *' parts of Mercury and Sulphur by grinding 
*' them together, and afterwards to keep them 
<* ftirring over the fire, till they come into a 
*< black Mafs j then adding to them about an 
** eighth part of Tin in proportion to either in- 
*' gredient, we are to melt the matter in a 
** Crucible, and at length to ignite it : upon 
" which, fays the author, there will now re- 
** main a yelloz:^ Povjder of very confidera,ble 

There has alfo been an anonymous Paper 
publifliM of late, which direfts us to amalga- 
mate Tin with Mercury, to ^owv Aqua forlis 
■ upon the amalgam,and gently to calcine, under 
a Muffle, the Powder that fubfides and remains 
after the ebullition is over ; which Powder the 
writer aflerts is often ufed, as a fix'd Mercury, 
by the Phy ficians of Holland. 

^ J- * 121. The principal Preparations of Lead for 
r'mt' mechanical purpofs ar e Litharge ^ Cerufe^ Calx or 
^"^ A/hes of Lead^ yellow Lead and Minium^ ox red 
/* Lead \ all which are in common ufe among 
Potters and Painters. 

For msri^jial and chemical ufes ferve the Sugar^ 
the Magifier^y and the G/^yJ of Lead: but all of 
tliem arc cmploy'd in Chirurgery, and fometimes 
crude X^^/rf it felf. 

. ^ Litharge is plentifully produced upon the re- 
fining of Metals in the larger Works ; wb 



§,4- Malleable Earths or Metals, 3^ 

the finer alhes of the Coals melting in along 
with the Lead^ turn it into a kind of glafly 
Subftance. 

Cerufe is made by Calcination in the way 6{^^h 
vapour, when a capacious Alembic-head is 
fiird with (heet-lead, or fuch as the Glaziers 
ufe, that being rolled loofely up, is fufpended 
in feparate parcels : then the head being put 
over a veflcl that contains good Vinegar, or 
fuch as has been diftill'd, the junfture luted, 
and the veffel fct in a warm place \ the finer 
vapours of the Vinegar by this . means come 
gradually to corrode the furfice of the plates, 
and concrete with the minute particles of the 
Lead \ whence a vitriolic Calx is produced, 
which being fcrubb'd and wafh'd , off with a 
brulh and hot water, the Plates are again dry *d, 
and fet to be corroded as before. 

The Calx ofLead^ as alio Tellow-Lead^ and cah 
Red'LeadyOr Mwmny are all made by a bare ^ 
calcination of Lead of Cerufe^ and differ only 
according to the degree of heat they are ex- 
poled to, or the length of time they flay or 
are reverberated in the Fire. Thus yellow 
Lead is made by gently calcining of Cerufe j 
which by rc^naining longer in the Fire, ac- 
quires a fine beautiful red colour, and fo be- 
comes Minium *. 

*Tis reported, that in England they prepare 
* this yellow and red Colour for Painters ufe, 
by a cbntinucrd calcination of the Lead along 
with conmion Salt •, which being firft decre- 
pitated, they throw in upon the melted Lead^ 
and keep ftirring it about till 'tis converted in- 
to a grey calx ; from which the Salt is again 
wafliM with hot Water. 

Z 3 I22« 

* Sec Ncri in Art.Vitrar.Lib. IV. Cap.(Si,&c. 



Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II, 

1 22. Thefe various Preparations of Lead are all 
of them reduced back to their originial Metal, 
by being flux'd with Salt of Tartar, Pot afh, 
or Nitre \ or the thing is done in an inftant, if 
equal parts of Nitre and Tartar be ground toge- 
ther, and mix-d along with half their weight of 
Minium, Cerufe, or Litharge •, and the mixture 
be fired or thrown into an ignited crucible : for 
thus the Lead will, under the violent detonation, 
be inftantly regenerated, or melted into a mafs. 
f 123, The Sugar of Lead is made by pouring 
upon the Filings of that Metal, or its granulated 
fubflance, fix times their own quantity of di- 
ftilPd Vinegar, or more, digefling it thereon, 
fikring the Solution, and afterwards evaporating 
it to a third \ then permitting it to cryftullize 
in a cool place. Though it rather lliootsinto 
undluous filaments than real cryftals ; from which 
the liquor being poured off, let it be again' in- 
fpiflfated to a third, and fct to (hoot again : and 
what liquor remains, may afterwards be eon- 
denfcd by gentle evaporation, 
}erjof 124. The Magijiery of Lead is made by pour- 
ing Oil of Tartar per deliquium to the Solution 
of the Metal in diftiird Vinegiir, edulcorating 
the precipitated Subftance, and preferving it for 
ufe in the form of a very wbUe Powder. 
rinc- 125. By grinding together equal parts of the 
^^- Sugar of Lcadi and the Vitriol of Iron, andpour' 
^ft ing Spirit of Wine upon them, there is obtained 
what goes by the name of tht TinoJura Anti- 
pbthifica. But as the Extradion either does not 
at all, or not fufficiently fucceed in this manner, 
'tis proper to make a feparate Solution, of the 
Vitriol of Irotiy firft dry'd or calcined to whitenefs, 
by digefting it for fome time in diftill'd Vin' 
gar, till it hlis communicated a red colour the 
to 5 and then mixing it with a SoW 



J.4* Malleable Earths or Metak. 34 

made alfo in Vinegar, and exhaling them away 
together till they appear un^ous, at laft to 
make the extradibn with Spirit of Wine. But 
ibme, inftead of this Tin6hire, ufe a Mixture of 
the Maffjiery of Lead and the martial Bezoar. 

126. The Glafs of Lead i^made with about gjj! 
two parts Calx or AJh ofLeaa^ and one of white 
Flint, vitrifiable Sand, Pyrites, or any Mud that 
will vitrify. But there are three things to be 
obferv'd in its preparation*, viz. (i.) That the 
more Lead is employed or taken up,the thinner the 
Glafs will run, and appear the more tranfparent. 
(2.) That the longer it is detained in fufion, the 
more of the Lead evaporates, the thicker the 
Glafs becomes, and the more it Jofes in its weight, 
{3.) That if Salt of Tartar, or any fix'd Alkali, 
be added to the mixture, it again reduces a part 
thereof ; whence rather Sandiver , or commonSalt, . 
is to be ufcd, to increafc its fluidity. 

I'his Glafs being mixM with any of the im- 
perfcdt Metals, as Iron or Copper^ or with the 
Calces thereof, it thence receives, according to 
their different proportion, either a black, a 
brown, or a red colour, with a greater or 
Icfs degree of tranfparency •, being of itfelf 
pellucid, and rcfcmbling the colour of an 
Emerald f. 

But in order to advance its degree of tranf- 
parency, there are fevcral things to be ob- 
fcrv'd-, viz. (i.) That the pure Subftance of 
Lead be employ'd •, thus Litharge, as being 
foul Lead, and commonly muc'd with the par- 
ticles of Copper or Iron, is the Icfs fit for this 
purpofe \ but rather Minium, or the Calx of 
Lead^ ought here to be ufcd, (2.) That the fu- 
Z 4 fion 

* Sec Ncri Lib. IV. Cip.6j. 

t See Memt.Not. in Ncri Art. Vitnf^ Ub.IV. C^. 6f. 
« Ncri ia Cap. 70. ficalibipadun. 



|. Malleable Earths or Metals.Vzxtll. 

fion be perform'd in a clofe or coverM veffel, 
left the coals or afhes falling in, if they do not 
foul the matter, fliould reduce part of it to 
metal again, (3.) That the fufion be conti^ 
nued for a fufficient length of time, viz. for 
three or four hours fucccffively. : and, (4.) That 
the aforelllid Materials, which tend, to procure 
a thin flux, be not omitted. For as the tranf< 
parency here depends upon an intimate and 
very fubtile refolution and coagitation of the 
particles of the Lead along with thofe of the 
Flint, the compleat performance of the ope- 
ration does neceflarily require a long conti- 
nued coagitation and attenuation, vyith the al- 
fiftance of proper additions. 

?»•- 127. The chemical ufe of this Glafs confifts 
[f-^ in ablbrbing the terreftrial Scoriae of Iron and 
Copper, fo as to make them let go whatever 
they entangled or detained of a good and ufcful 
fubuance. Upon which Foundation Hands the 
whole Miner a Arenaria o^Becher^ and of Glauber^ 
the perfon from whom he derived it*. The en- 
tire procefs is found defcribed in the Concordantia 
Chymica +• 
bmni^ Befides its pure chemical ufes, it is in the mc- 
r/Z^ chanical way ^thcFoundmon of '^\lthcEnnmels\ 
s^f. a large number whereof, amounting to a hun- 
dred, may be found in Bechcr*^ Concordantia 
Cbymica 4, and fome of thofe, concerning which 
it is remarked by If. Hollandas^ that the more 
fubtily the Crocuflcs of all the metalline ingre- 
dients are attenuated, the more perfcd the Glaft 
will be that is made from them. But this kind 
of attenuation can hardly be better performed 

th 

* See Miner. Arcnar. Bcchcr. pag. 864.. 
•j- S^ee Concord. Chytn. Bcchcr. pag, 7^ 
4: Pag. 6(;i,6cc. 709,^0, 



j,f Malleable Earths or Metals. 3 

than by diflblving the Metals in the common 
corrofive Menftruums, and gently abftrading 
their Solution in Balneoj with fucceflive d^rees 
of heat, till the Solution is fufBciently de- 
phlegmM \ after which the remainder is to be 
cryftallized, the Cryftals extracted in Vinegar, • 
again cryftallized, and the Cryftals diflblved 
in fair Water •, and laftly filtring and totally 
exhaling the Solution, Which Operation, the' • 
it may feem too operofe and tedious for Ena- 
mdsy yet ought to be rememberM for other 
more noble purpofes *. 

f//£ INCOMPLEAt METALS, 
BISMUTH, ZINK, AND ANTIMONY. 

128. Bifmutb^ otherwife called Tin-gla/sj andBifim 
My otherwife called Sj)elter or Tutenag^ are Sub- *^f ^ 
bices that have hitherto been very little cx-tUkm 
amin'd •, though by their weight and colour they ^*^^^ 
plainly appear of a metallic and mercurial na- m tna 
ture: whence alfo in the common MenftruumsJ^^^* 
they affume almoft the fame forms, or undergo 
the fame changes as Lead ; being readily folu- 
blc in Vinegar, and communicating a faccha- 
rine tafte tliercto ; but in Aqua foriis diflblving 
ftill eafier than I/cad. 

'Tis remarkable of Bifmutb^ that when dif-gig^^^^ 
folved in Spirit oLNitre, it throws off a moft ^#e/w 
copious fume from the Spirit, on account of]^>'^/ 
the intenfe effervefcence it makes therewith \ 
whillt Lead has nothing of this eftcft. And 
the Solution being precipitated bthc addi-* 
tion of Water, throws down a white Powder, 

which 

• Sec Bschcr. Suppkm. II. in Phyfic. Subtcmn. Thcf. IV, 
; [^* P%* 7)8* See alio Mcrrec ia Not. ad Neri Arc. Vitrar. 
**»lV.Cap.6i,6i,65.8cc- 



6 Malleable Earths or Metals. Part U i 

which is found to be an excellent Pcrl^iraiive 1 
in acute diftempers, attended with ihflamtna. i 
tion, or too great heat« \ 

[, 
»/ 129. Both Bilmutb andZmit: ferve to a very; 

cTrufi ufeful mecbamcal purpofe^ on account of the thin ! , 
rs^i- ^^^^^" ^^^y» ^ ^^ ^^^^» inftantaneoufly procure to I 
Metals ; whence they become capital Ingredients * 
in the Preparation of 5(7W(fn, 

That a yellow or gold colour is introduced 
./*' by Zink into Copper, we have not long fincc 
oofcrved * ; but there occurs alfo a kind of 
Zink that is of itfelf naturally yellow, and 
commonly called by the name ofSpelferf ; be. ' 
ing the produce of a certain Marcaftte^ which 
has been hitherto little ufed, except in me- ; 
chanical Mixtures. 

•ftbem ^30. It appears highly probable, that the[e , 
un tbi Concretes either adtually or potentially contain a 
large proportion of the pure fubftance of Silver ^ 
and Gold, already perfefted, tho* again infeded i 
by the fupervention of an arfcnica) matter, or ; 
that might be perfeftcd by the ufe of proper 
means. To which purpofe the Sufpicions ot 
Fafchius \\ well defcrve to be confidered •, where \ 
\ he fays exprefsly of Cobalt^ and the like marcafi^ 
. tical matters^ that ** he has reafon to fufpcft 
" from experimental phsenomena, that the grea- 
" teft part of Cobalt is Silver, and a large pro- ' 
** portion of that kind of Marcafites good Me- 
** tal.'* And to the fame purpofe Becker like- 
wife deferves to be confultcd, in his Concordantia 
Cbymica 4:. - ip* 

* See ^. I IX. of this Scdion. 
+ SfUtiter^ in Germany and Holland. 
11 In Prxfat.ad Probicr-Buchlcin. 
+ Sub tit. Concord. Vittiol. Concord. Jkr linkminh l^' 
coolpadl, &c. 



j|, Malleable Earths or Metals. 347 

131. But of all rfic incompleat Metals^ Jnti-Mtimmf^ 
fn^n) has every where raifed the greateft expefta- ^mm/c^ 
lions f being a metallic, mineral Subftancc; oijti^tif 
very tenacious mixture, and diflblving all the 
Metals except Gold, intimately mixing itfelf 
along with them, and highly attenuating even 
Gold itfelf, with the affiftance of tinother Me- 
tal or metallic Sulphur, 

This mineral Body is compofed of an incom- 
pleat metallic Subfiance, along with a large 
proportion of Sulphur ; which Sulphur appears 
not in the leaft to differ from the common •, 
and accordingly if this fulphureous part be, by 
the addition of common Sulphur, reftored to 
the Regulus of Antimony, the Antimony thus 
becomes regenerated and perfeftly re-inftated. 
But its reguline or more metallic part is a fur- 
prizing kind of Concrete, that has many ex- 
traordinary ufes both in Medicine and Cbe- 
miftry. 

132. Tho* there are various pharmaceutical 
Preparations of this metallic Subftance, yet they 
allanfwer but two intentions i viz, thatofEme- 
tics and that of Diaphoretics. 

With regard to the^fr/?, the Antimony is 
vitrified^ but previoufly thereto calcined \ in 
which operation its Flowers alfo are fublimed. 
All which are effefted at once in the following 
manner. 

A quantity of crude Antimony being rcrg^e^ 
duced to fine Powder, is put into an earthen*'*^ 
difh, with a flat bottom, and fet over a gentle 
fire, fo that the bottom of the veffel may 
not become ignited, for the fpace of an hour j 
during which time the matter is to be kept 
continually ftirr'd, with an iron ladle, anid 
prevented from clotting j tho* this end may 

he. 



\ Malleable Earths or Metals. PartiL 

be moil commodioufly anfwer'd by performing 
the operation in an iron mortar, and either pre- 1 • 
venting or breaking the clots with the peftle. |: 
And thus with conftant agitation a white fume I 
will go off along with that of burnt Sulphur, X 
and induce a powdry cruft upon the inftru- | 
ment empl#yM to ftir the matter. After the \. 
firft hour, the fire may be fomewhat increafed •, ; 
but if the matter, contrary to expeftation, ; 
Ihou'd run into lumps, it muft be removed ' 
from the fire, and ground again, and after- 
wards expofed to a farther Calcination, till at ^ 
length the bottom of the vcflel being now vi- \ 
fibly ignited, no more fume exhales, but the 
Anlimonj appears converted into a grcj Pov- \ 
der. 
ned. If the Fume which tlnis goes off in the CaU 

clnation^ be coUefted by Aludels, it will be ^ 
thereby condenfed into white Flowers. 
ficd. The remaining gre'j Calx being now melted 

in a Crucible under a Muffle, firll forms it- 
felf into little crufts and bubbles, and appears 
not much different from crude Ant'wion) in fu- 
. fion i but in half an hour's time it will flow 
thin and quietly : at which time a prcof may 
be taken of it, by dipping an iron rod there- 
in, and immediately catching it away, to! fee 
whether the matter fhines -, for when that figa 
appears, it may diredlly be poured out upon 
a copper plate. But if it be required tranfpa- 
rent, 'tis to be kept in fufion feveral hours 
longer; t\\\ t\\z proof ^ taken in the manner juft 
now mentioned, be anfwerable to the expefta- 
tion. 

fid'UfUb '33- The next Preparation of ^«/i/;io«J is ^^ 
*d Alkali, mannei of procuring its fimple Regulus^ orfuft 
it along with fixM Alkali, thus. One part 



^ Malleable Earths of Metals. 

to/«^»y* ^^^ ^wo parts of any fixM Alkali, be* 
ug melted thin together, or till the matter throws 
ipa parcel of little fiery drops or fparks, it is thea 
be immediately poured into a Cone; where 
he matter coming to cjool, the Regulus of the 
ij'timony will be found at the bottom or apex of 
he Cone ; and may now be beat from the Scoria 

This Sc ra or Slag being powdcr'd and fee 
in a Cellar, will there run per deliquium \ or ic 
may otherwife be diflblved in Water : the pow- 
der left undiflblved being edulcorated, and the 
Solution filtred and precipitated with Vinegar. 

Somethiiig of this kind alfo happens, t;/z. a 
reparation of the purer metalline part from 
the Tuperfluous Sulphur, by throwing into the 
Antimony^ whilft in fiifion, half its own quantity 
of Iron, or the filings, plates, or granulated 
Siibftance of any other imperfeft Metal, whe- 
ther Copper, Tin, or Lead ; for by this means 
the fuperficial Sulphur of the Antimony in- 
vades the Metal that is added, and quits its 
own rcguline part ; which therefore flills to the 
bottom, and becomes what is called the com" 
pund or metallic Regulus of Antimony. 

134. As we have already treated of the Sul-^rbe 
^W of Antim. ;;y, under the head of Sulphurs *, J?J^^ 
\thave here only to confider the metallic part/J 
f the Concrete, which we find -to be ^ volatile Jl^'J 
Mci pofuleroiiSj metaHic Subjlance^ that comes 
'^0 contact and mixture v ".ii the true Metals^ 
nd proves iohible in Spirit of S.ilt and Jqua re-* 
w> but lefs foluble in Spirit of Nitre ; luving 
fo this remarkable property, that when once fe- 
?^ted from the body of tlic AntUisOnj^ 'tis very 
®cultly mix*d with it again. . Sc- 

* Sec the head of Sulphur of ^U/WPwy. 



o Malleable Earths or Metals. Part II J 

u h Several have attempted to render this metal^ 

f'd lic/uhftancetnsiWciblCj fb as to make it refcm-i^ 
f f/ ble Lead i and propofe to effeft the thing by' 
means oi Saccharum Saturni *, upon which head 
Bafil Valentine^ s triumphal Car of Ant'mon) de-,. 
ferves to be confiderM : where alfo the Anno- ; 
tator upon that work, Kenkrigius^ highly re- 
commends fuch a kind of Lead to be ufed by 
Chirurgeons in all cafes of Ulcers, where other- 
wife only common Lead is employed. But 
there are fome indeed who underftand bythisex- 
preflion nothing more than the fimple Reiuh 
I ofjintimony^m^dc without any addition of Lead,' 
and only by bare fufion, along with alkaline 
, Salts, fixM Nitre, or Salt of Tartar, whereby 
the Sulphur that was intimately mix*d with the 
Antimony 'i is more and more abforbed ; whence 
the Regulus comes to lofe fomewhat of its brii< 
tlenefs. 

pmmde 1 3 5. This fimph Regulus of Antimony is far-; 
]^^^^^*' ther converted to medicinal ufes, by mixing it 
ny. ' with twice its own weight of MercurySiMw 
mate J and placing it in a Cellar to Hand for a day 
.or two : Or elfc without fuch a previops dige- 
ftion, the mixture is directly put into a fmalt 
glafs Retort, with a very wide neck, and (lowly 
^ • urged with proper degrees of Fire in a Sand» 
Furnace; by which means the acid Spirit of 
Salt contained in the Mercury-Sublimate, feize$ 
the Regulus J imbibes, diffolves, and thence carries: 
it over the helm with itfelf; and at the fame; 
time gives it a thick or butyraceous confiftence,] 
whence 'tis called by the name o( Butter of M* 
mony. 
i>h Butter If this )bich liquor or Butter be feveral nr 
^tbinn^ diftilPd over again, without addition, at al 
the third operation it will becom'' '^^ 



{.f Malleable Earths or Metals. 351 

fluid and limpid : and the fame thing happens 
by letting it lie in a Cellar upon an open gla- 
zed difh; where at the fan\e time italfo in-, 
creafes in weight, by attradting the moifture 
of the Air. 

If a large quantity of Water be at once jindpreei- 
poured to this clear Liquor^ it immediately M«''^«^ 
turns milky, and being fuffer'd to (land atyte!*"" 
reft for fome time, dcpofites a white Powder^ 
called Mercurius Vitce. But if the Water were 
poured on cold, and the Butter of Antimony ftill 
retained a grofs form, and was not liquid •, tiiis 
Powdr alio will be grofs, lumpy, and more 
vitriolic ; but fubtile and perfedly white, if 
the Butter was firft made fluid, either in the 
way of Reftification or Deliquium, and pre- 
cipitated with hot Water, into which the But- 
ter is let fill by drops. 

There are fome who precipitate this fluid 
Butter of Antimony with Oil of Tartar per deli^ 
^uium^ inftead of common Water -, and thence 
expeft to obtain a Powder that fhall prove on- 
ly purgative: but its fuccefs is by no means re- 
gular and conftant. 

If this fame Butter^ brought into a fluid ftate, rte B$m 
as above mentioned, be gradually and flowly ^'^^^ 
mix'd with Spirit of Nitre, fo as to avoid that 
intenfe heat and ebullition which wouM enfue 
upon putting them haftily together, and they 
be thus both driven over in a Retort, by a mo- 
derate degree of heat in Sand, till nothing but 
a dry powder remains behind, and Spii it of Ni- 
tre be again poured upon, and abftrac^ed from . . . 
the Powder, and this at laft be edulcorated; 
it thus becomes a DiaphoFetic, under the Name 
of Bezoar mineral. 

Upon pouring highly re&ified Spirit of Wine 
to this fluid Butter of -Antimon^^ \Xvtt^\^^^>Sfc 



2 Malleable Earths or Metals. Part \\ 

comes a confideraWe heat and effervefcence af- 
ter they have ftood for a minute or two toge- 
ther i for which reafon this Spirit ought to be 
added to the Butter, not at once, but at feve- 
ral times, and that always at the diftance of 
a quarter of an hour from one another : by 
which means alfo there will, with an intenfe re- 
a6tion, be precipitated an exceedingly [uhtik 
and li^t white Powder^ that ufually proves* 
fir ft emetic^ then foj>orificy and at the fame time 
violently fudorific. 

Tretic 136. Befides the Bezoar mineral abovemen- 
^y* tion'd. Antimony is othcrwife prepared for the 
purpofes of a Diaphoretic, by well grinding one 
part thereof, reduced to fine powder along with 
three parts of pure Nitre*, and throwing the Mix- 
ture by a fpoonful at a time into an ignited Crucible 
or ftrong earthen pot ; foas ihitihc fulj)hnreous part 
of the Antimony may be burnt up in the flame or 
. ftrong detonation occafion'd by the admixture of 
the Nitre •, at the fame time that the arfenical part 
is driven off in fume by the intenfe heat, and thus 
leaves the purer reguHne or metallic portions 
ftrongly fix'd with the alkalized part of the Nitre 
at the bottom. 

If this operation be performed in an old ear- 
then Retort, with a Hole in its upper part, 
the nitro-fulphureous Spirit will at each injec- 
tion impetuoiifly rufh into the Receiver, and 
may be collected by having there placed a lit- 
tle water for the purpofe : but the white arfe- 
nical Flowers will be found fticking in tlie Re- 
tort 5 or elfe being driven along with the fume 
into the Receiver, ^thcy may be collefted and 
feparated from the liquor by the Filtre. 

The mafs remaining at the bottom of thi 
veflel being taking out, is to be detained for a 



54# Maileahle Earths or Metals. : 33 

hour or two in fufion ; or, if it will not run, . 
kept only ignited in an intenfe heat, for that 
time i and afterwards, either diflblved per de- 
liquium into a pappy fubftance, or when coord^ 
brought into a powder by the afFufion of cold 
Water: the matter in both cafes being again 
boil'd in Water, and fo edulcorated ; and laft- 
ly by lotion or elutriation, feparated from its 
little grumous clods or lumps i in which ftate 
. being now dried, *tispreferv*d under the name 
0^ Antimomuin Diaphoreiicum \ a medicine, for 
the purpofes of a Perfpirative, (which at the 
fame time frees r.nd purges the blood of acid 
fliarpnefs and foreign taint,) not at all inferior to 
tht Bezoar mineral. 

137. This fame Bezoar Mineral is alfo mixM^Bct< 
with other Metals, various ways, with detona- ^^"* ^ 
tion or without ; whence the BezoardicumSolare^ 
lunarey Martiale^ t? Joviale. 

The Bezoardicum Solare is commonly pre- 
pared by pouring a Solution of Gold, made 
with Aqua regia^ or a Solution of the Calx of 
Gold, made with Spirit of Salt, upon eight 
times its quantity of Butter of Antimony * , 
and digefting them together for fome time, if 
a curious preparation is required ; then fixing 
the matter by the addition of Spirit of Nitre, 
and abftrafting the Menftruum by diftillation :• 
Thus the common Bezoar Mineral is procured^ 
with the Calx of Gold finely mixM and ad- 
hering in it. 

After the fame manner they proceed in the BesotnU*' 
preparing the Bezoardicum Lunar e\ viz. for~«^«^ 

' each 

. ^^tlfer orders a fourth part of Gold, in proportion to 

A a ,, .■..:': 



Malhdhk Earth or Metalh^mM. \ 

.each ounqc of Butur $f^ Jntimpny they diffolvc 

a dram of Silver in Spirit of Nitre, and with 
thb Solution precipitate the Powder, which 
thm \>ccomt$ Bezoat mineral^ mix* d along with 
Luna comua* 
We have already dcHvcrM our Sentiments 

; as to the mcdidptd ufis of thcfe two Metals; 
under the particular heads of Gold and Silver f. 

' But if there be any who (hall think fit to lifc 
thefe Preparations, we wouM recommend to 
them that neater and more elegant way of ma- 

. kingthe Solar Bao(Ut;^\i\c}\ (lands defcribed by 
Glanber^l and is again oit^hy Becher^^i 

i where we are direded, after the Solution of 
the Gold is poured to the Butter of Antimny, 
that they be not only digefted, but alfo difliird 

. together i whereby a large proportion of die 
Gold will be exceedingly lubtiltzed, atd come 

. over the helm along with them» fo as; to form 
a kind of red Butter of Antimony^ which is af- 
terwards to be fix'd by Spirit of Nitre* Or elfe 
inStc^fi o( the Solutioti of Gold^ it may l>e every 
way more advantageous to ufe a Solu^on of 
Iron, made with Spirit of Salt, and continu- 
ing the digeftion for a confiderable tin'ie. That 
Solution of Gold alfo is much fitter for this 
purpofe, which is made with the Cab; of Gold 
and Spirit of Salt, than that made with crude 

: Gold and A^w regia. 

But for the Lttnar Bezoar^ we likewiferc- 

.: commend that Procefs found in Becker* t Rofe- 
turn Cbymicum i\ where the Silver is direftcd 
to be melted with an equal quantity of Regu^ 
lus ofAntimoHy^ and mix'dwith twke its weight 
of Mereun-Sublimate i from whence the Buh 

_. ^ tr' 

t Sec the particular Heads, 

I) Cent, iv: $. }•, 40- •• Rofet aymfc. P^p 

* 8uh, Tit, f^w'i OiHi. N^ itf. 



{.4< MaUtMi Eatthi Oh M^aJs, 355 

Ur h to be diftillM with a heat fufHcient to ig- 
nite the velTei at laft^Then the.iame quantityof 
Mercufy^Sul^imateis to be m\K*dmxl\ the Cspkt 
mortnum^ and the diftiUation petforn^M as be^ 
fore. What remains behind upon this diftil* 
lacion, is again to be melted with a new par* 
ccl of Regulus^ and again fublimed with a n-eih 
parcel of Mercury-Sublimate v tindthis courfe 
is to be continued till the whole quantity of 
the Silver has pafled over along with the But^ 
ter: which is afterwards to be fix'd, as the 
fmple Bezoar^ with Spirit of Nitre* But in both 
cafes it muft be carefully obferv'd, that the 
Mercury-Sublimate employed be fuch as was 
prepared with -^j«^/^r/iV J wherein the Quick- 
filver being dilTolved,' and^ like Luna Cornua^ 
precipitated, by the Spirit, or Solution of 
common Salt, the liquor is to be poured off^ 
and the remaining matter edulcorated with 
common Water, then dry'd, and thrice fub- 
limed. 

138. The beft Method of preparing the Mar- BetotNi* 
tial Bezoar is thvitof LudovicuSj yfhich he de-JlSJ,***^ 
fcribes in his Pbarmacopma % where he dire£b 
ui to mix 6ne part of Iron with two parts of 
Antimony^ and with the addition of a little Ni* 
tre to melt them in a very ftrong flame, fo 
as to procure a liquid fufion \ upon which, if the 
Regulus were poured out, it wou'd be found to 
Have one fourth of the original weight. But the 
fufion being continued, and the mafs now flowing 
exceedinglv thin, 'tis to be kept gently (lirring 
With a fteel rod that reaches to the bottom of the 
Crucible: by which means the Regulus which' 
flows at the bottom, will by degrees corrode the 
rod, and with it turn into Scoria* But -the better 
<o promote thisefife^fc) a fm^l quantity of Nitre 
Aa 2 >J^ 






MalPeabh Earths oi'^M 

is now and' then to be added.' And if after half 
an hour^s fufion, or more, the rod when taken 
out, as it fometimes ought for trial fake to 
be, no longer appeai-s to fparkle, and no lon- 
ger lofes of its fubftahce at the point; a little 
more Nitre being thrown iny and the mafs, by an 
intenfe flame, rendred extremely thin, 'tis then 
tobe poured direftly out, and when cold, reduced 
to Powder: which Powder is afterwards, by a 
fpoonful at a time, to be thrown into twice its 
quantity of Nitre, brought to flow in another 
vefleh Laftly, the matter is to be emptied a- 
gain, elixated, edulcorated, and dryM % whence 
it becomes the Martial Bezoar : a medicine ap- 
propiated tohyflerical, hypochondriacal, and ic- 
terical Diforders, 

But if only the Scoria* of the Martial Regth 
lus of Anlimon'jy fufed along with a fix*d Al- 
kali, and edulcorated, in the manner we Ihall 
prefently mention, were here employed, or 
mix*d along with twice its weight or Nitre, 
and thrown by degrees into an ignited Cruci- 
ble, in order to its compleat detonation, a 
more Martini Powder would be thence pro- 
duced of a ruddy colour, like red Oaker j and 
which we commonly call by the name of Cr^- 
cvs Mar lis Antimoniatus •, and find better fuited 
• than the foregoing Martial Bezoar^ for the pur- 
pofes of an Aperitive and Abforbent. 

139. The Bczoardicum Joviale is made by fil- 
ling together equal parts of fimple Regulus of An- 
timony and pure Tin ; afterwards grinding the mat- 
ter, and fucceifively fulminating it in parcels, with 
twice or thrice its own quantity of Nitre ; the 
Fire being made intenfc at laft, and continue(' 
fo for about half an hour : during w^'""" 
the marrcr is now and then to be f 



5^ i MaUeahle Earths or Metah:^ ; v 

ifooden ftick. Then the matter being poured 
out, and fuffer'd to cool, it may be diuolved in 
cold Water, but rather jprr deliquium \ by which 
means there will be obtained a ligbtrgrey coloured 
Powder^ called AntibeHicum Poterii. But there 
are feme who for this Preparation diftil the com^ 
pound Regulus into a Butter of Antimony with thrice 
its weight of Mercury-Sublimate, and afterwards 
fix it with Spirit of Nitre, as in making the fim- 
f\c Bezoar Mineral. 

Our ufual Method is to fufe the Ttn along 
with twice itsyrcightofcrudt Antimony ^ then 
to feparatc the Regulus^ which we referve for 
other ufes, and fix the remainder with, thrice 
its quantity of Nitre 5 as in the preparation of 
fimple Antimonium Diapboreticum : for as in 
that there remains nothing but the pure metal- 
lic Subftance of the Antimony 5 fo nothing of 
the Tin here ^ comes into the Regains by iuch 
an operation, with fuch a proportion of the 
Antimony. 

1 40, The other Medicinal Preparations of An* ^ 
tmony are ufually handed about under the fpeci- #• 
cus name of Tin^ures. ** 

The common Tinffures of Antimony^ as they 
arc called, [may be, and ufually arc prepa- 
red by digefting the Scoriae of the martial 
Regulus^ (fufed with Nitre and Tartar, or 
with fix*d Nitre alone) in Spirit of Wine, 
But if the Spirit employM for this purpofe, 
be highly rectified, the TtnSlure is no more 
than a tartarized Spirit offVine^ ot^nHureof 
Salt of Tartar •, but if the Spirit be lefs rec- 
tified, it at the fame time grofsly diflblves 
fome part of the Sulphur here conuin'd.in the 
Hx'd Alkali, and thence comes to manifcft a 
tafte thereof. Such a kind of tartariz'd Tine-- 
A a 3 * \wrc 



MaUcabie Martha Metaff. Fart II, 

I tire mvf thcrefqrc have confidcrable abforb* 

sng, dkphoieuc and ^ilittrccic Yircues \ though 

jthey m ru> rcfpe^ proceed from the Jfttimony^ 

I but merely from the fix'd Alkajii or Sulphur 

mixM aloi^ with it. 
I Bat t^tki reality b a more ^/i/iiyi^/tta/Ti;!^ 
I titr^i, which wc find prepared frpm the Ghfi 
I ofJnttmonyy ii> the method long ago prefcribed 
I Jby jB^iPii/rif/i«(f» aodilluftratcdby his Com- 
i fxtmtsitor Kerkringius^. The Operation in ftort 
; depends ujxm procuring a purple Qlafs of Ath 
iimony^ which of itfelf flxali be highly attenu- 
ated -, whereto they add difliU'd Vinegar, and 
by long digellion caufe it to extra^ a ruddy 
. colour trom the Glafi. T)co&^nged Vinegar they 
' filtre and abftra£t with due caution, in Balmo \ 
: and afterwards, pour Spirit of Wine xipon tjie 
..remaining mattery dxe Spirit, according to 
;. Kerkringiu^^ being firft acuatedwich Sal-am- 
moniac, and tl^n ab(bra£k it again/Next 
rhcy filtre the remaining Extract, and digcft 
ijt in a vial, with a long continued uniform 
heat,, till coloured drops appear to arife : then 
the matter is difliU'd in a low Cucurbit or Re- 
tort, with the ftrongeft heat that Spirit of 
Wine will hear \ whence all the volatile ting- 
ing fubftance comes over along with the Spi- 
rit. Lafkly^ this Spirit is.ab{lra£ted with a very 
mild and gentle heat to a half; upon which 
the remainder becomes ihtTtsiaure ofAntimou)^ 
whereon they bellow the highelt Encomiums. 
We ought not here to omit the mention of 
that remarkable Experiment of Kerkringius^ 
which he made of the Fowd&^ that in this Ope- 
ration remains after the firft Extraiftion of the 
Vinegar, anditsfubfcquentabftradion; when 
.. ha^ 

f Cunus Triumphar. Aotimoa. cuml(ot.¥Jex* 
f/^— 'Jr-f- . Sec aUb upon tkU Vw^ I>*^t^> 



\.j^. Mallea^i Earths or Mitdltl^^^^ 

hAving diflblved it jMr deUfuium^ he with the 
liquor, brought to fuppur^tion, and perfe&ly 
cured a very dahgerous ulcerated Cancer in the 
breaftf. 



t4t. Anlimohyt or rather its Re^uks^ is to^ 



Chemical Purpofii cmployM in various Refilutions^ ^^ 



ExtraffidKs^ and Depurations of Metals. 

We have an Example of thefe Refolutiofts/^lJ, 
fumi(h^d m by Berlichius \\ \ where Kc dire&s»^^ 
the Metal to be fufed with Antimony in a fuf-«/j 
ficiently ftrong Fire \ whereto the addition of 
now and then a little Nitre, to procure a thin 
flux, will aifo contribute : when the Regulus 
being feparated, and the Scoriae very finely 
ground, then mixM with nine times its own 
quantity of a Powder that confiils of three parts 
Tartar, two parts Nitre, and one of Sulphur^ 
the whole mafs. being now together, is put 

. into a large pot, (landing in an open place, 
where the Fire can do no hurt: and there light 
up with a coal : the matter remaining after the 
deflagration, when walhM from its faline part, 
will be the Metal, in fome degree dill niix'd 
with the reguline part of the Antimony ; which 
reguline part however will gradually evaporate 
upon the powder's remaining long in the heat 
of a reverberatory calcination, aftd leave only 
the Crocks of the Metal, highly fubtilized, be- 
hind. 

The dime thiiig is more expeditioufly . ef- « 
fefted in the preparation of xht Martial Regu-fti 
lusy after the following manner. A parcel of *fl 
old Iron Nails, Plates, or Filings, being put^ 
into a Crucible and well ignited, twice their 
Aa 4 own 

f See Kcrkring. ia Not. ad OiLt.Tmia^k. fAuaum. ^a^. 

H DiOcrt. loaug. dc Mcd\c\iaMw«a^, ^«^ Mc- 



Malleable Earths or Metals Part II. 

own weight of Jntimony is thrown in upon 
themv Or if the Filings of Iron be made 
choice of, they may be ground along with an 
equal weight of Jnlimony^ and fo thrown to- 
gether, by a fpoonful at a time, into an ignited 
Crucible*, the remaining half of the y/;//i;«^»y 
being afterwards added by degrees. The Crucw 
ble is noW to be well cover'd up with Coals, and 
the Fire kept up ftrong till all the Antmony 
appears meked into a paippy lubftance •, upon 
which a little quantity of Nitre is now to be 
thrown, and the matter all ftirr'd together with 
an Iron- rod: immediately after this another 

.. little parcel of Nitre is to be added, and fo for 
the third or fourth time, till the weight of the 
Nitre ufed amounts to a third of the Metal 
or Iron employed. The fire in the mean time 
being carefully kept up in its • vigour ; and at 
length the matter being poured into a Cone, 
it there affords a Regulus^ and a large quantity 
oi dusky vitreous Scoria -, which being ground 
•fmall, and boiled in Water, the Decodion 
filtrcd hot, and the remaining Sediment eduko- 
• rated and reverberated i by this means thcr.* 
.will be obtainM an exceeding fubtile Crocus 
Marl is y if Ironj or Crocus Veneris ^ if Copper 
were the Metal employed. 

This Proc^fs is otherwife performM by firft 
bringing a pared of the fix'd Alkali ot Pot- 
afh, fix*d Nitre, or Salt of Tartar, equal to 
that of the Antimony defign'd, to flow in a vio- 
lent Fire •, then throwing half their quantity of 
Iron-Nails or Filings into the Crucible, and 

. prefently after, though at different times, and 
in fmall parcels, the Antimony itfelf ; t|ie fire 
being now kept brifkly up, lo as to melt z 
together into a very fluid Mafsj whi<"'^ niP" 
known by ftirring or tr^in^ the 



§,4. Malleable Earths or Metak. ' 

Spatula, When a due <fcgree of very liquid 
fufion is obtained, the matter is to be diredly 
poured into the Cone % upon which it will again 
feparate into A-R<gw/«i and 5fpri^ ; which 5r0n> 
being treated as juft now mentioned, will in 
the fame manner afford a very attenuated mer^ 
tallic Crocus. 




other Metals, it may by this means be feparated jJ^J 

from them. 

The Separation thus procured by Antimony^ 
Becber confiders barely as the effeft of gravity j 
on account whereof he thinks the Antimony 
comes to refolve and colledt together all the 
Metals, which being lighter than Gold, conti- 
nue to float above it. But this Opinion is not 
without its difficulties. For, (i.) When no- 
thing but pure Gold is melted along with An-^ 
timcrtyj the Antimony ftill lets go the Gold in 
the fame manner •, though, by the Suppofition, 
it fhou*d only do this upon the mutual fufion 
of other Metals along with the Gold. (2,) But 
the principal objection is, that Gold will fub- 
fide in ANtimony without mixing at all con- 
fiuerably therewith •, whilft the fame Antimony 
remains mod teiiacioufly interfperfed in the 
bodies of all other Metals •, where it does not 
aft by its bare gravity alone, as we evidently * 
fee in the cafe of Lead. For if Lead be fufed 
along with Antijnony^ and little plates of Sil- 
ver be thrown into the melted mafs, the Lead 
will not by that means be precipitated, but 
rather the Silver freely fubfides into a Kegu- 
lus, which i5 no way touched by the Anti- 
mony ; whilft the Ani'Amtv) deuvtis x\\^ LfctA\ 



MaUeabte Earths or Metah, Partir.1 

a matter whereto it may adhere more firmly ) 
than to the Silver. 

*Tis however tnie in Praftice, that when An- 
timony is melted with Iron, for inftance, either 
alone, or according to the other methods late- 
ly mentioned, the Iron thus fubtily diiTolved may 
be brought to enrich the body of the Silver, 
or to depofite a grain or two of Gold therein \ 
. as may be difcovcr'd by edulcorating the Scoria, 
ftratitying it with Silver-plates, and cementing 
them together for fome hours in a clofe veflel *, 
the fire, at length, being fo far increafed, as 
to make the matter flow for fome hours longer ; 
. afco* which it is to be taken out, beat from 
.its Scoria, refined and proved by the Depart. 
. . The rcafon of which effect proceeds hence, 
chat the latent Gold naturally contained in Iron 
being now very fubtily divided and difFuftd 
therewith, comes in the courfe of this long 
ccMitinued fufion and ebullition^ to be a thou- 
'. fand times tofsM and agitated every where 
:; about therein, fo as of neceffity fometimes to 
.impinge upon and unite with the particles of 
the Silver, which now make part of the mix- 
ture 5 and being once lodged among them, they 
cannot afterwards be touched either by the 
• Antimony or the Iron : fo that the Gold thus 
- defended, wants only for its manifeftation to be 
pcrfeftly feparated from the Scoria, and col- 
iedcd tc^echer in its natural form, by the 
! proper operations for that purpofe. 

But *tis alfo apparent, at the fame time, tnat 
;lhc Scoriae here form'd by the Antimony ^ cor- 
roded with the Metal, whence they both come 
! to be joined together, are lighter than the reft 
of the Metal, which remains uncorroded, a' 
float above it in the nature of 



^ MaUeabk Earths $r Metals f)^ 

The Theory ^Becbet therefore may very 
irdl be admitted in this feiife» that all the Me^ 
talsy but Goldt being corroded by AMimonj% 
ire thereby rendered Tighter ; buras Gold itfdf 
cannot be corroded by Antimony^ that Metal» 
on account of its fuperior fpeafic or metal* 
lie gravity^ falls to the loweft place. This 
explanation may be farther illuftrated by die 
following Experiment* To an ounce of melt* 
ed Silver throw two ounces of Antimony^ and 
when they have flow*d very thin to^ethert 
pour them out \ upon whicn the Antimony 
will be foun^ a-top9together with about a dram 
. of the Silver it has corroded» in the form of 
a fpungy Scoria 5 whilft the reft qf the Silver 
that is not thus diflblved, remains cloie and 
heavy, like a R^ulus, at the bottom, 

143. But as this nguline Subftance of Antimony^ ^ 
thus deftroys and corrodes not only Sulphur, ^ 
j)uc all the imperfeft Metals, and even Silver J^ 
itfclf, the ancient Chemifts hence took occafion m 
to call Antimony fometimes by the name of mctd- ^ 
licSalt^ fometimes metallic Mercury^ and fome** 
times metallic Sulphur. In which fenfe Becber al* 
fo is to be underftood, as well where he fpcaks of 
the metallic acid Sulphur^ m his Obferration or 
Judgment upon the Philofopbical ff^ark^ in tbe dry 
way * i as in his Subterraneal Pbyfics t% where he 
iays that the Salts and Sulphurs of Metals ought to 
appear under a metalline form. The fame au- 
thor likewife, in treating of the Mercuries of Ba^ 
^es\U attempts tofhew how we nuy procure 
fiickaSubjed clear ^ all heterogeneous foccs, 

which 



"^ See Ccmcord. Chym. fub. Iioc tir. 
t Supplcm.IL in Pbyfic. Sobtcmskpig. jM.^it^. 
^ I Sec Pbr6c. Sufaw. tf- ^1$^ 6<* K&Dtt.l««. v^V 



b Malleable Earths or Metals. "Part IL | 

yrhich fhall at once be the Mercury of Bodies^ and ? 
yet hot fluid* And when he mentions the Leads^ \ 
or Mercuries of cotnmon Lead^ Iron^ and ^«- ' 
timom^ he nArly and cxprefsly equals the Regu- ] 
lus of Antimony^ carefully freed from all its lu- • 
piernuous Sulphur, to the homogeneous Mercuries^ = 
^nd when impregnated with the Sulphur of Iron, 
to animalad Mercury itfelf. Which is a Thought 
that highly deferves to be confider'd ; and per- 
haps has more in it than Becber himfelf appears 
to have known or intended. 

At leaft, whoever confiders this bufinefs at- \ 
tentively, will not find it difficult to conjedhire \ 
attherequifite Calcination of common Gold j\t\ l 
order to the Philofophical IVork \ which Cald- \ 
nation \^ not only exprefsly required, but.de- - 
clared to be highly advantageous, in the famous 
Marroiv of Alchemy*. 

■^i/^ 144, Such a pure Lead of Antimony is by Be- ; 

^«y*- cbcr f dircfted to be prepared, without theaddi- ' 

^"f^'-tioh of the Soul or Salt of common Lead, by ta- 

;. - ' ;king thtfiviple Regulus ofAuiimony prepared from 

its Ore, with a Flux of Tartar and Nitre-, when 

having beat off its firft fulphureous Scoriae, 'tisa- 

gain to be melted with the fame Flux fo often, that 

at length upon pouring it out, it (hall float pure, 

and appear ho more tinged or difcolour'd, than 

when it was firft added. In which operation it is 

to be obferved, (i) That each fufion Ihou'dbe 

continued for a confiderable length of time -, (2) 

That the Coals be very carefully prevented from 

falling into the Crucible ; (3) That the Rcgulus, 

now at' length bcconVe tenacious, be • ftill f jfe^ 

once 



* Kern Jer Alchymie, 
Sec alio the Supplement under the b' "Ufifk 

Stoiii. f Concord. Cbym. ip 



\^i;^ Mdleahli Earth ^ 

once or twice morie; in a flat, wide Crudble dr, 
nlttni Teftj till it be brought to a very ccHifi- 
dcrable degree of tenacity j at which time it is* 
called the Lead of Antimony. Becber alfo in an- * 
ocher place gives us a Procefs under this Title,'9l^ * 
wake the Mercury of the Lead of Antimony where 
the Regulus of Antimony is exprefsly fignified by 
that name ; and otherwife called the Lead of An- 
\mony * 

145- What this Regulus of Antimony is capa- /< 
ble of performing in the way oi improving Me*\\ 
talsy we may likewife learn from the fame Au- #« 
thorf, who informs us, (i,) That xht Jimple 
Reiulus being firft jnixM or melted along with 
Silver^ and then evaporated, leaves, the Silver 
enriched with a few grains of Gold; and, (2,). 
That the Crocus Metallorum^ or the Scoria, ob- 
tainM in the preparation of xX\t fimpU Regulus^ 
being edulcorated and cemented with Silver, and 
liilly melted into it, by a continued fufion of 
everal hours, renders the Silver of a golden na- 
ui'e. 
146. This reguline Subjiance of Antimony mzy n 
likewife be commodioufly employed in the Ex- ^ 
traHion of the metallic Sulphurs^ as they are called, i* 
and their Purification from all terreftrial hetero-J^ 
geneous fasces -, whence the compound metallic phi 
hgtilm^s^ ^/z, the Martial^ the Vensreal^ and the 
Jmaly arife. 

There are fome who queftion whether thefe . 
compound Regulus^ s do actually participate of 
any thing from tiie Melaly wherewith they are 
prepared ; and fufpedt there is no more per- 
iorm'd in this cafe than a bare abforption of 
the Sulphur abounding in the Antifnony^ upon 

which 



* /4/e/ii lbid» pag. 34.1. N*^. 11. 



5 Malleable Earths or Metah. Part Ii; | 

which the reguUne part fubfidcs alohc. The ! 
meaning whereof is this, that the rrgulincSub. i 
fiance confiifedly intermixM with a Targe pro- [ 
- portion of adhering Suli>hur9 is what makes An^ I 
iimonyi and that if this Sulphur be taken a- 1 
way, the remainder becomes Regulus again : i 
Whence, as the Subjefts which eafily take '• 
away this Sulphur from Antimon'j^ are Alka* ' 
lies^ Iron^ Copper^ Tin and Lead^ any one or ^ 
more of thele being added to Jhtimony in fu- ! 
"■ fion, ought, upon that fuppofition, only to 
receive or imbibe the Sulphur, and leave the 
Regulus pure and unmix'd, coUefted in a me* '. 
tallic form at the bottom. 

This Opinion is overthrown by numerous 
Experiments and Inftances of the contrary. ; 
For example, if any fuch metallic Regulus^ tho* i 
made ever fo pure, be fimply evaporated by 
the Blow-pipe, upon a p>al, it leaves a pure 
grain of metal behind ie,which, upon the Proof, \ 
is found to be Gold or Silver. So likewife the 
martial Regulus in particular, being melted in 

• a Crucible, with the addition of Coals or com- : 

* mon Sulphur, and detainM for fome time in the i 
Fire, a ruddy Powder or Fhwers evaporate or 
fublime from it, which nearly approach to the 
nature of Cinnabar : and if digefted with a 
Menftruum confifting of three parts diftilkd 
Vinegar, and out oi Aqua fortis^ it affords a 
green Extraffion : but nothing of this kind 
happens in any of the cafes, when only the 
fimple Regulus is employed. 

mMIj 147' This ExtraSlion of the pure metallic Sul- 
I p!!r$ f^^^^ dcferves to be the more attentively conn- ^ 
irV*. der*d, becaufe Becber * cxprefsly advifes us 



f Miner, Arcnar. pag.911. 



A 



5,4. MalkaUe Earths or Metals: 

beware ofufing conp/tvr^ faiine Menjlruum Sot 
this purpofe, as thev mighc eafily* together with 
the ufeiful part of the Regulus^ or rather of thc: 
Iron or Copper^ corrode and extract alfo the ufe^ 
Ic6, earthy ,an^ ftyptic part ••which upon melting 
them together, wouM again accrete to the ufc* 
{ill part) and conceal or di^uife it under its for- 
mer ignoble veil But this reparation b excel* 
Icntly performM by the Regulus ofAntimom it- 
(elf *f there being no danger that this (houM im« 
bibe any of the terreftrial, ilyptic Subftances. 
But if there be any fufpicion, that fuch a com- 



fmnd Regulufihon^d fti 



1 contain fomething of 



the crude fubfbnce of the Metal, as we ufually 
find to be the cafe in the martial Regulus^ melt- 
ed in a ftrong heat, and fuddenly poured into 
the Cone •, or if the Jntimom employed contained 
but litde Sulphur, or only 10 fmall a proportion 
was ufqd as cou'd not totally corrode the Metal ; 
whence the Regulus becomes porous, lefe leafy, 
and lefs bright or Ihining, but rather appears 
difcolourM and grey, and of itfelf indifpofcd to 
flow, unlefs the fire be made very intenfe ; and 
i whence alfo the Venereal Regulus turns ruddy or 
livid in the fpace of a few days : in thefe cafes 
the Regulus is to be beat again, mixM with its 
own, or a half more than its own weight of crude 
yintimony^ and thrown into a welMgnited Cru- 
cible, and fufed with a very good heat, fo as 
to make the matter run very thin, in which, 
ftate it is to be direftly poured out ; and by this 
means the Antimony again imbibes all the crude 
Metal that dill adhered to the Re^ulus^ and thus 
at a fti^le operation renders it highly pure and 
bright : an effeft, which, in the common way, 
with Nitre, is not obtained without a deal of 
trouble. 



)8 Mdlledble Earths or Metals. I*art II 

manner 148. This britigs US to confider the mannerof 
Vmm preparing thtjiellate Regulus of Antimony ^ where- 
»/wV wi the ancient, and mott of the modern chemift$ 
"""^y* have placed a deal of myftery. 

But we arc here to obferve, with Mr, Boyk^ 
• in his Ef ay upon the unfuccefsfulnefs of Experi- 
ments'*^ that this Starh not wholly confined 
to the compound kind of Regulus* s^ but fomc* 
times alfo happens in lAitJimple ; as indeed by 
the proper management it may be conftandy 
. made to do. Neither has the difference of 
Time, or Conftellations, nor the difference of 
the Iron or Antimony as Mr. Boyle fufpefts, 
any (hare in the various fuccefs of this Expe- 
riment •, but barely the (late or condition of 
! the Fire^ and the Scoria which float above the 

Regulus. 
j The Fire for this purpofe ought to be very 

intenfe •, (o as to make the Regulus exceeding- 
ly hot and thin •, whence upon being poured 
i into the Cone, and cooling from the fides to- 
i wards the centre, and being alfo at the fame 
\ time condenfed in this motion by the coldnefs 
I of the Cone, it ftill retains the marks or effefts 
I thereof upon its furface, when it comes to 
I be cold 5 viz, a feries of undulations reaching 
from the circumference, to the centre of the 
I mafs. 

j But if the faline Scoria, ideating a-top of 

the Regulus^ be of that confidence as not to 

I flow thin ; or if it IhouM again grow pappy 

; and frothy at the inftant of its cooling and 

i thickening, the furface of the Regulus will 

thence become unequal, porous and fpungy, 

fo as to obfcure the ftellate pofition or un 

lat 



See Bojlc Abridgm. V<AA% 



J.4. Malleable Earths or Metak. 

latoiy ihoo 
the Yurfece. 



latoiy ihoots, and render them invifiblc upon 



149. The genuine and facile Method of mak- a 
ing this^ ftellate Regnlus^ take as follows. The ^*^ 
Regulus^ whether Jimple or compound, having /n^ 
been once again fufed with a little frefli Antimofiy^ ^^ 
to purge it of any grofs and foreign metalline 
particles that might ftill remain mix*d among it, 
IS now melted in a ftrong Crucible, and whilft- 
it continues flowing, about an eighth part of its 
weight of pure Nitre, is by a little at a time 
thrown in upon it \ but if the Nitre thus happens 
to fulminate with a portion of the ReguluSj apd 
rifing to the upper part of the Crucible, there 
forms a hard cruft, that will not fufe even with 
a ftrong heat, the remaining part is to be thrufl: 
into the matter, and plunged below the flowing 
Regulus \ whence the upper cruft: alfo will come. , 
to be melted. A liquid fufion being thus pro- 
cured and continued for half a quarter of an hour, 
the fire being ftill kept up ftrong, and briflcly 
niifed juft before the Crucible is taken out 5 the 
matter is now diredtly poured into a heated Cone, 
and there permitted to cool, without any mo- 
tion or difturbancc. Thus a faline, cauftic, and 
tranfparent Scoriai bearing a refemblance to am- 
ber, will be found a-top, of a greewjh colour^ if 
the Regulus were Martial \ but perfeftly like 
Amber y if it were Jovial: th^. Regulus in both 
cafes appearing all over bright, and every where 
fcot into ftellate Licaves, or Needles, which, more 
particularly upon the furface, manifeftly refemble 
a Star. But during the v/hole operation, the Coals 
niuft be kept from falling into the Crucible j 
and the more carefully this is done, with the 
greater certainty will the bufincfs fucceed. 



> Malleable Earths or Metals. Part 11, 

wr 150, If this IkmG Jiellale Regulus be melted 
jj^ again, and poured into the Cone, upon a flack 
rated, or languid fufion no Star will appear ; but may 
for any number of times, at pleafure, be reftored 
by the Method juft now defcribed Nay, tlie 
i2«;«/^i like wife may b^ made Stellate at one 
fufion, or even in its original Preparation, if the 
dire&ion here laid down be but carefully ob- 
fcrved. 
f and 151. *Tis remarkable of the Jmber-Scoria 
'^ procured by this operation, that they relent or 
grow foft per deliquium i and being elixated or 
wafti*d from their fliltnefi, leave behind a Cerufe 
of the Regulus of Antimony ; that is, its regulinc 
part, fix*d by the Nitre, in the fame manner as 
when Regulus cf Antimony is bruifed and mix*d 
with twice its own weight, or more, of Nitre, 
and fulminated, like the Antimonium Diaphoreti- 
cum^ it thus makes the Cerufe of the Regulus ofAn* 
timony % provided it be alio edulcorated, as the 
Diaphoretic Antimony. 

If this Amber-Scoria be by itfelf feveral times 
fufed in a violent Fire, and the fufion each 
time continued about a quarter of an hpur, 
and after this the matter be poured out, cooled 
and melted again-, when the operation has 
thus been eight or ten times repeated, the 
matter is found to have loft: its caufl:ic tafte, 
and to become in a manner vitrified. 

But if, during 'the fufion, an ignited Coal 
be thrown into the Crucible, the Salt feizes 
upon it, fulminates with its more inflammable 
Sulphur, and lets go the reguline part it be- 
fore contain*d, which now runs along with 
fome portion of the Sulphur -of the Coal into 
its former reguline confiftence, and thus f 
U6h itfelf into a little feparate mafs •, the 
maining faline Scoria at the ^ "'*^'»e bco 



§.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

Ii^ opake^ and much Jefi cauftic than be^^. . 
fore. 

This pure Amher-Scoria may be advantagb** 
oufly ufed inftcad of frefti Nitre, in order to 
repeat or exhibit de nwo^ the ocular demon-* . 
ftration or mechanical produftion of the r^ 
guline Star \ provided it be kept in a clofe* . 
dry place, for that purpofc \ fo that it may 
not run per deliquium. For as the addition ' 
of frefh Nitre every time diflblves a conlidcr- 
able part of the Regulus \ this lofs may be 
prevented by thus employing the faturated 
Scoria. 

1 5 2 .. If the reguUne part of the Antimony fhouM Tt 
remain mix*d with any Metal, and it be requi- JJ'j 
red pure, or feparate therefrom, this may moft?^^ 
commpdioufly be eftcdcd by the like Method of-^ 
fufing it with Nitre; provided only that the«« 
fufion be urged fo far as (hall procure a vitre- 
ous tenuity to the Scoriae, or make them appear 
like Amber. In which fenfe we are to under- 
ftand thofc words of Becber *, where he fays. 
Gold that is infeded with reguline and fulphu- 
rcous fubftances, may, by the bare injeftion of 
Nitre, be refined at once m the fame fire, fufion 
and vclfel ; viz. by throwing the Nitre U[X)n it, 
and taking it off again with a ladle ; and repeat- 
ing the operation till the Scoria of the Nitre is 
no longer tinged or altcr'd in its colour. Where 
it is alfo to be obferved, that if other Metals 
befides the Regulus are mix'd together, though 
the Scoria will not become tranfparent, fo nei- 
ther fhou'd it remain dufty, thick in the fufion, 
and pappy, but be brought to a glafly tenuity. 
Bb 2 153* 

• Miner. Arcnar. pag. 8; j. Sec alTo GUttifr in his Miri*- 
^»^m Mnndi. 



-^^alleable Earths or Metals. Part 11, 

^53. We have ftill farther to obferve, before 
^^ conclude this head, into what various forms 
^^'^d Jhapes this reguline Suhftance of Antmotfj is 
^^nverttble. Thus for example, 'tis turned to a 
j'JcfV, to a volatile^ and to an intermediate Sub- 
Jiance^ in the different Preparations of Z)ia/)i^(?r^. 
tic Cerufe^ Bezcar Mineral j Flowers^ Mercurius 
Vita, Glafs of Antimon'^, &c. from all which the 
Regulus may not only be recovered again, but 
any one of them may likewife be converted in- 
to any other ; or made to travel fucceflively 
through all the various Schemes and Forms of 
the reft. 
ns^ If die Regulus of Antimony be reduced to fine 
' powder, and calcined in an open yeffel, after 
the manner above diredled for the Calcination 
of crude Antimony^ fo as that the bottom 
may remain conftancly ignited for feveral hours, 
this alfo is hereby turnM into the fame kind of 
grey Powder *, But here there occurs a rc- 
• markablc phaenomenon, viz. that the Regulus, 
notwithftanding its conftant evaporation or 
fublimation, in form of a fine fume, is found 
to gain in its weight •, fo that for example, 
if an ounce of the powderM Regulus were thus 
committed to calcination, it becomes at the 
end of the operation heavier bv half a dram, 
or a dram, than it was at firfi ; and this at 
the fame time that it is contracted in its bulk* 
And if the Poivder thus calcined be melted 
with a fufficient degree of heat, it turns to a 
purple Glafs, fomewhat purer than that pre- 
pared from common Antimony. 

If a quantity of Charcoal, in grofs powder, 
be added to this Glafs, and the method of re- 
duifion praftifed in a clofe vcflel, with a 



f Scc%. ijo. of this Scftion. 



§4. Malleable Earths or Metals. yi\ 

of fufion continued about an hour, more Or 
lefsj according to the quantity of the mac 
ter 5 when after this the veffel comes to be 
broken, the Glafs will be found reduced to Rs- 
gulus again. 

154. But \i x\it ReguUis be fulminated with^«'»'«* 
Nitre, and afterwards edulcorated, it will thus^*}*'^ 
become a white and very /yV PoW^r, called iv/'rr, 
xhtCerufe of Regulus of Antimom\ which being 
again fufed with an equal quantity of Nitre, fo 
as that the mafs may run very thin, if now an 
ignited Coal be thrown into it, and detained there 
till the fulmination is entirely over, and after- 
wards taken out ; and then fome coarfc powder of 
Coals be added in its ftead, whilft the fire k kept * 
up fufficiendy ftrong ; and if, When the little bits ' 
of Charcoal are no longer diflblved of a fudden 
by the flowing matter, a fmall lump of Nitre, 
no bigger than a Bean, be thrown in, and the 
matter be poured out immediately upon the ful- 
mination occafion'd thereby; hence alfo the 
P^ze;^^r will in great part be reduced to Regu- 
lus again. This Reduction likewife might be per- 
formed by means of Coals, in a clofe vefiel, af- 
ter the fimple manner juft above mentioned. 
And the fame thing alfo happens if the Mercu- 
rius Vite^ after 'cis edulcorated by boiling in 
Water, be dried, calcined and fufea in a ftrong 
Fire. And the fame is to be underftood of 
Bezoar mineral^ treated as the Cerufe of Antimony 
above-mention'd ; for both of thefe will tKus 
run into a kind of Amber-Glafs^ which is redu^ 
cible by the fame methods. 

155. But \( Rdgulus of Antimony be fufed with^^j 
thrice its own quantity, or more, of Silt of?^^^^^ 
Tartar and in a clofe veffel detained for an hour 
in the fire, it will in great part be dcftroyM there- 
B b 3 by. 



' ' Malleable Earths or Metals,V2irt\\, ; 

• • • 

' /by, and thrown inco the form of Scoria. And 
ii the Salt be feparated from it by means of ' 
cdulcoration, 'twill appear like a bright kind o\ 
Crocus Metallorumy and is in reality that very 
thing; which alfo, after a fufficient degree of 
cdulcoration, runs into Glafs. 

But xixhtRegulus be fufed along with thrice 
its weight of Nitre, and Salt of Tartar, mix*d 
in equal quantities, after the method, and for 
the fame continuance of time, juft above-men* 
tion'd, the Scoria will appear of a beautiful 
yellow, and tht Powder^ when edulcorated, of 
a fine lemmon colour. 

ti- 156. The Cert^fe of the Regulus of Jniimony, or 
^^j^ the ylminiGnmn Diapkorcticum^ being treated in 
cte'd the fame manner with twice its weight of Salt 
fame ^^ Tartar, or any other fix*d Alkali, will ac- 
quire a green colour, more or lefs. And if it were 
the Jovial Regulus that was thus melted, in the 
firft manner, with nothing more than Salt of Tar- 
tar, and the Scoria be diflblved in Water, and 
boiled for fome time therein without evaporation, 
the Powder will become of a beautiful yellow. 
But if the Regulus Vftrc Martial^ and treat- 
ed in the fame manner, the Powder wou'd ap- 
pear like Vermillion. But it mud here be 
' obfervM, that if this does not prefently fucceed 
upon gentle boiling, the whole Decodion is 
to be left in the velTel negligently cover'd, or 
half open, for fome days 5 whence the red co- 
lour will be cfFedlually fecured. 

Or if t\it Glafs of Antimony or Crocus MetaU 
lorum be at hand, either of thefe alfo, upon 
being melted with their own weight of Nitre, 
will prefently turn to Antimonium Dtaphorcti" 
cum. 



§.4. Malleable Earths or Metals. 

1ST. The Glafs Calxj Regulus^ and Golden Sul- rk 
^ur of Antimony, the Crocus Metallorum and Jnti- J^ 
tnonium Diapboreiicum^ do all of them, by being An 
mix*d and diftiird with Mercury-Sublimate^ turn J[^' 
into Butter of Antimony. n^ 

But if any of the Anlimonial Preparations^ 
being reduced into the reguline form again» 
• as the neareft to their natural ftate ; and 
this Regulus^ as it is fimplv feparated from 
its fqlphureous part, fhouM Be again fiifed, 
and common Sulphur fliou'd be thrown upon 
it in tlie fufion, whilft it is demin*d in the 
Fire for that purpofe, the Regulus would thus 
again be brought back to the ftate of crude 
Antimony. 

Qr becaufe there is fome difficulty in this 
Operation, the thing had better be performed 
in ?i clofe veflcl ; firft applying a heat of 
cementation, and by degrees riling to that 
of fufion. In both cafes the containing vef- 
fel (hould be glazed, that it may keep in 
the Sulphur, which would otherwife eafily pafi 
through its pores, and fly oft'. 

158. There is ftill one thing here to be noted ^^^ 
and recommended to farther experience, proceed-/^ 
ing from an attempt to profecute the Labours of^ 
Poften^ mentioned by Becker in the Rofetum Cby »h 
tnicum^i where the Metals are ordered to be di-^j 
ftiird into Butter J by the means of Regulus of Anti- 
mony J in which cafe it may, from fome trials,*be 
fufpedted, that i\\tMartialRcgulus is here the thing 
intended ; and that tht fimple oneh^sno fuch effcft. 
Which obfervation likewife ought not to be neg- * 
lefted in the Procefs of Montefnyder^ advanced 
among the Experiments of Digby. 

Bb 4 SUP- 

*N*itf.and i8. 



■ ,^\-' (376) 



SUPPLEMENT: 

Co NT A INI N C, 

An Hiftorical and Experimental In- 
quiry into the Bufinefs of Mercu- 
rification, the Mercuries of Me- 
tals, Animated Mercuries, and 
the Great Philosophical Work. 



SEC T. L 

Mercurification, or the Mercuries 
OF Metals, 

^jir^ I. \ Bundance of things have been currently 
*"^*/J /A handed about relating to the Mercuries 
^iVty of Bodies \ and abundance of fixpefta- 

*^«'- tions have been founded upon them : yet the 
^" Proceflcs commonly prefcribed for obtaining thefe 
Mercuries^ often perform fo little upon expe- 
rience^ that i?^/^»ri{: has even pMckly demedti^j^ 
pojjibility of preparing them ; and this in a pard- 
cular Treatife wrote for the purpofe *. Becker 
however has confuted this Performance of Rol- 
finck 1 5 and given us at the fame time a Method 

• Gmrn, Rolfinck. dc Non-cntitat. Mcrcurij Corporum^ 
t Becker, Supplcm.l. ia Phyfic, Subtcrran^ 



I 



5.1. lie Mercuries of Metals. - 

for aftually procuring the Mercuries in difputc *•• 
iunkel likewife more than once appeals to pcii- ' 
larDemonft ration f for the proof and reality of >: 
the thing •, and Langelct || teaches us the manner, 
of doing it, with all its circumftances, at large;* 
^vjyK^rkringm % queries if any one can be at thi^ 
day fo unexperiencM in Chemiftry, as not to : 
know the method of preparing the Mercury of 
Antimony either one way or other: Afluringus ' 
that things which in the time of Bafil Valentine 
were very great Secrets, are now the common 
Experiments of every trifling Chen[iift. Ye^ a 
Cloud of late fecms brought upon all this Evi- 
dence hy CaJfiifSy who** pofitively declares, that 
olifive hundred Procejfes and more^ relating lb this 
bufinefs, he has not met with one from which he 
could conclude fo much as the poflibility of the 

thing tf. 

2. Amidft thefe feeming Con traditions we are % 
obliged to fide with Experience^ which certainly ^ 
affords a foundation for the *l'lmg -, and the capi- /« 
tallnftruments for bringing it to an experimental JJJ 
trial in Pra5fice^ are Common Sali^ volatile uri- Pr 
nous Salts J Sal-ammoniac^ and Salt cf Tartar: buty£ 
what principally forwards and promotes the work, 
is the depuration and fubtilization of the reguline 
fart of Antimony^ or other metals, from their 
fupernuous inflammable Sulphur^ and arfenical 
Earth. 



♦ Btchtr, Supplcm. 11. inPhyfic. Subtcrran. 

t Kunkil. Obfervat. & Append, de Non-cat. Cbym. &ۥ 

II In Epift. ad Natur. Curiof. 

i Ad Nor. ad Currum triumphal. Antiroon. 

••Tradat. dc Auro, pag. 3. 

tt The Effaysof M. Homberg, mentton'd in M, F$BtMneUe'$ 
Hjftory of the Royal Academy, as wrote by him upon this 
*^i whcr e he promiies to give the manner of obtainbg thefe 
^citries^ wou'd be a very j^cceptabk Prc&nt to the Publick. 



378 7^^ Mercuries of Metals. Su 

Am ixfiri^ 3. For the Mercurification of Gold the fo; 
^llr'u *"S Proceisdefcrves to be recommended, as 
Mncurifi* ceeding entirely upon an experimental foi 
cdd^ ^rf- ^^^^ '» ^^^ being found in an old Treatife^ 
jMCi'i'ihr tltd Jlcbemia vera^ wherein various genuine 
fiiifl^iMc^ 0f fuccefsful Proceffes are faithfully coUefked 
sung Mer. deliver 0. 

**^' **(!•) Let 5tf/-^»j»w»mr be prepared by 

•* liming it feveral limes, as fix for inft 
^* from an equal weight of Sal-Gem -, but 
*♦ at leaft without any addition. (2.) Let 
*^ tarized Spirit of JVine be prepared witl 
♦* moft highly reftified Spirit of Wine, anc 
" of Tartar reverberated in a clofe place ; 
♦* that the Spirit may turn blood-red upon it, ( 
*^ come a very deep and faturated Tinfture c 
« of Tartar. (3.) Let the Gold, firft fufcd 
•* Antimony, be diffolved in an Aqua regi(i 
** pared of one pound oi Aqua fortisy anc 
** ounces of the Sal-ammoniaf above-mentii 
" the Salt being only diffolved therein. (4. 
*« this Solution of Gold be abftrafted to an 
*♦ ginous confidence, then fet to cryftallize 
" it will totally fhoot into Salt. (5.) Let 
" Cryftals be again diffolved, by pouring a 
♦' parcel of the Aqua regia upon them ji < 
•* them together, and after a fuHicient ab 
•* tion, cryftallize the matter again •, and 1( 
«< be done for three times fucceflively. (6. 
♦* the Yourth time, let the cryftah be difl 
** in diftiird Vinegar that has been drawn 
** from common Salt, and again cryftallize 
*' at leaft abftrafted to a moift degree of 
^« tude. (7.) Let this moift and thick n 
** be diffolved and extrafted by Spirit of 
I ** that^has been moft highly rectified ^ 
I ** and by gentle abftraftion red 
i " to an oily confiftence, (8.) 



j,i^ T'be Mercuries of Metals. 

(add as much of the SaUammoniac, (ubtily 
I fublimed in the manner above-mentioned, as 
« quals chc weight of the Gold employed •, and 

< by grinding them together in a glafs mortar, 
« raiuce them to a very attenuated mafs. (9.) 
^ But if the Spirit of Wine (hou*d evaporate 
i in the trituration, and fo leave the mafs too 
^ thick of a fudden, a little more is to be added 

< of that before drawn off from the matter \ 
^ till at length all the humidity coming thus 
' fpontaneoufly to evaporate, the remainder is 
'^ left folid enough to form into little balls. 

* (10.) The matter thus form'd into balls, is 

* to be put into a ftrong Vial, and the above- 
" mentioned Tindture of Salt of Tartar to be 
^' poured thereon, till this rifes the breadth of 
" three fingers above it •, then the Vial being 
" immediately clofe flopp'd, is to fUnd in a Cel- 
" lar, or cold Water, for fome days. (11.) After 
" thb let the Vial be placed in a warm Air, and 
** when it has flood there for fome days, let it 
" be removed into lukc-warm Water, where it 
" muft be left for feveral days, or perhaps weeks, 
"till a mucilaginous Sediment appears tobe de- 
" pofited. (12.) When this Sign is obtained, 
" the matter is to be treated by diftillation 
" and fublimation in a little Cucurbit, begin- 
** ning firft with the gentle heat of a Bath ; and 
" rifing by degrees, with this caution, that the 
" volatile Spirit be firft diftiU'd over in the 
** mild heat of the Bath, fo as to leave a fome-* 
" what thick liquor behind 5 upon which, what 
" IS already diftilPd muft be poured back, and 
•' again abftrafted -, .thus repeating the cohoba- 
" tion to the third time. (13.) After this the 
'' heat is to be gradually increalbd, fo as to 
** bring over all die humidity, and then the 
*' Cucurbit is to be removed to a Sand-fur- 

" nacc; 



iBo TZe Mercuries of Metals. Suppl, 

•^ nace ; where alio by gradually increafing the 

*' heat, if any moifture fhou'd ft ill remain, itmufl 

♦' be evaporated ; then keeping the Fire ftrong. 

** and raifing it fucceflively , lb as at length almofl 

«* to ignite the veffel, but not quite to mak( 

" it even of a dufky-red heat, the matter is tc 

", be fublimed ; witn due care to regulate thi 

** Fire, or keep it up to thatftate it is in whei 

<* any thing firft appears to fublime. (1.4.) Le 

** all the matter, thus obtained by Sublimation 

** be mix'd with twice its weight of Oil of Tar 

*' tar^^r deliquium^ and driven through a coatei 

" glafs Retort, into a Receiver half filPdwitl 

*< Water; whereby all the Mercury that is re 

*5 vived from the Gold, will be collefted an 

** condenfed: and it were not amifs, firft t 

** diflblve a little Sal-ammoniac in this Watei 

*' (15.) AH that now appears in a runnin 

** form at the bottom of the Water being xi 

>* ken away, let the Water remain at reft fc 

*' fome days; whereby it will again come t 

♦' depofite a fmall quantity of Mercury j whic 

•^ it before detained in a watery form mix' 

*' along with irfelf. After this, it maybe fti 

** farther examined, whether it contains any moi 

** of a mercurial Suhjiance^ by puttbg a pie( 

** of Gold therein, to fee if it will turn it whir 

** But though it fhou'd thus give no manife 

«* fign of Mercury, the Water will ftill rctai 

** the ftrong fmell of a volatile urinous Spirit 

** which may be drawn from it by diftillatior 

** after which, the remaining Water beir 

*< thrown away as ufelefs, the Spirit diftiird froi 

** it may be again examin'd by dropping Spii 

♦< of Salt into it, upon the contad whereo 

** if any thing be precipitated in the forn^ 

** Powder, this alfo by beir^ 

** with Vinegar and comm 

2 



1 



Ij^j, The Mercuries of Metals. 

portionable quantity, will be revived mto 
running Mercury.*^ 

4. As to the Mercurlfication of Silver^ and thepn 
iter Metals, Tm and Lead^ as alfo the Regulus^ 
Jntimony ; thefe Bodies, but efpecially Silver 9/ 
id Lead^ receive a great advantage or difpo* 
ion to this operation, from the method of 
recipitation ufed in making Luna cornua ; that is, 
om being diffolved in jlquafortis^ and precipitated 
ith the Spirit of Salt \ whereby Silver^ for in- 
jncc, is rendered exceedingly volatile. 

But thofe words of Becber here deferve to 
be confiderM, when he fiiys, <* By this Error 
« I learnt not only to make Mercuries^ but 
«' alfo to diftinguiih in Salt the Earth that 
« tranfmutes to Arfinic 2iw\ to Mercury^ 
" that is, the Alkahejl from the Mercury 
« of the Philofophers *.*' He alio feyeral 
limes declares up and down in his Writings^ 
** That Mercury is nothing more than a ful- 
" phureous, metallic fubftance, reduced to 
" its natural fluid confidence by the fuper-* 
*^ vention of the arfeuical Sulphur of Sea^ 
" SaUfr 

In order to procure the Mercury of Lead^ 
he direfts us in his Phyfica Subterranean firft 
to prepare the Saturnus cornuus^ by diflblving 
the Lead in Spirit of Nitre, and precipitating 
it with Spirit of Salt \ then to mix it with 
twice its weight of common Salt, incorporated 
with Bole, and fo diftil them with a very • 
ftrong Fire ; where]by a great part of the 
Lead will, at the fame time, in a leafy form 
come over into the Water placed in the Re- 
ceiver ; 



* Bcchcr, Phyiic. Subtcrran. Seft. VI. Cap. -8. pag. 5*40. 

'9- 

t See Miner. Arcnar. 4c Jylcaftruo fcctcnt. Lttllii.pag.898 



l2 Tie Mercuries a/Mefais. Supoll 

cciverj which he affurcs us may, by a very 
flight management, be totally revived into 
. runmng Mercury f. ^ | 

' This Procefs ftands more clofely defcribcd' 
in his CoTicordantia Cbymica* \ tho* with the* 
cmifTion of the ccmmon Salt in one cafe, which; 
is reftored in another. The Procefs is to this 
cfFeft. " Take oi Lead very finely granula.^ 
*' ted, and four or five times faturatcd with) 
M Spirit of Salt, then dry*d and ground, and' 
♦* an equal quantity of common Salt -, mix^ 
•* them well together, add to them their own 
•* weight of Pajfavian Earth, and again mix 
" them well together \ put them into a Re- 
" tort, and by degrees, with a very intenfe 
*< naked Fire, draw over the Spirit-, which 
>^ will thus carry over the Lead, as it were 
♦« in leaves, along with it, and tinged of va- 
" rious colours. Mix together all the Spirit 
♦^ and Matter contained in the Receiver, adding 
*« thereto alfo what is fublimed in the neck 
** of the Retort, and draw all over again to 
«' drynefs in another Retort ; precipitate the 
«* Spirit with Oil, or rather Salt of Tartar, 
** till the hifling noife entirely ceafes j and ai 
" the bottom there will be found a rtinn^ 
** Mercury. Or if this does not happen t( 
•< expeftation, abftraft the whole in an Alem 
" bic, and what is abftrafted revive and pre 
** cipitate with Spirit of Salt," In whic 
Procefs there is no mention made of the Satui 
^us.cornuus^ as there is in another place of th 
fame work|Ii where he fays in fhort, *^ That tli 
«* Saturnus cornuus put to Oil of Tartar, an 

*^ difti"' 

• t See Phyfic, Subtcrran. pag.409. §. 19. & in hanf 
^ \. plem.ll. paflim. 
1 • Pag. 330, N®. 17. 

II Sec Concord.Chyra.pag. 3J3, N^.i*. 



j,i. 7!5^ Mercuries ofMetaU, 

«< diftiird with thrice its weight of Sal*amf 
«< moniac, gave a rnnning jdenwj!^ 

5. There are various Methods prefcribcd for 72 
obtaining the Mercufj of Antimony but all agrcc--^ 
ing in this, (i.) That the Remus be firft redu-M« 
ced tp the greateft poflible d^ree of attenua-^ 
tion ia;nd fubtility; and, (2.) That Sal-ammo* 
niac, or the volatile, urinous Salts of Soot, and 
Urine, or elfe common Salt and Vinegar, be af- 
terwards ufed and applied to it. 

Befides the' Method of LangsloU for pro- 
curing the Mercury of Antimony^ we would re- 
commend the following, which, agreeing With 
his in the materials, but differing from it in 
the proportion and manner of working, an- 
fwers very well upon experience,, (i.) Let the 
Regulus of Antimony be fublimed with four times 
its quantity of Sal-ammoniac, that has before 
been by itfelf fublimed from common Salt. 
(2.) Let the afcending Flowers be again ground 
with what remains at the bottom, and the 
matter be fo flowly digefted for two or three 
hours, as that the Sal-ammoniac may rife in a 
light vapour in the vcflel -, then the degree of 
heat being gradually increafed, though ftill 
kept gentle, let the Sublimation be finifhed 
in this foft manner. (3.) The fubliming vef- 
fel being now broke, lee all that is rifen be 
taken out and kept a-part *, but the bottom 
is to be again fublimed with four times its • 
weight of frelh Sal-ammoniac, as before : and 
thus the fame work is to be repeated till the 
whole quantity of the Regulus is fublimed. 
(4.) With the Flowers thus procured, mix twice 
their weight of Salt of Tartar in a Vial, and 
pouring Water upon them, till it rifes three* 
or four wchcs above their lutf3LW^ kt dl tl\c 



^4 ' ^^ Mercuries of Metals. Suppl, 

faline fubftance be diffolved ; then clofing the 
neck of the vial with good fticking wax, let 
it ftand at reft for two or three days; after 
: which it is to bedigefted in a mild tepid heat 
for a day or two longer. (5.) When this is 
; over, all the matter muft be poured into a 
high Cucurbit, whereto an Alembic-head is 
fix'd, with a wax luting, or plaifter j * and 
thus it muft be diftill'd for fome hours with 
a gentle heat. (6,) After this the urinous Spi- 
rit alfo is to be abftraded from the matter 
remaining in the Cucurbit, fo as to leave that 
matter of an oily confiftence. (7.) This uri- 
nous Spirit 4s again to be reftifieJ from its 
fuperfluous phlegm, and poured back upon 
that oily remainder in the former Vial, where 
it is to be again gently digefted for a day or 
two, and then flowly abftrafted : and when 
this has been done three times over, the Spirit 
fo abftraftcd is to be kept a-part ; a fufficicnt 
quantity of the phlegm, if neceflary, being 
again poured upon the remaining mafs, and 
digefted therewith, for feveral days, in a con- 
fiderable degree of heat. (8.) Laftly, this 
phlegm alfo is to be abftrafted till it leaves 
a thick matter behind, which is to be fluther 
dry*d by gentle exhalation, then ground fine, 
and fublimed in a well-coated Cucurbit ; the 
fire being gradually increafed, for three or 
four hours together. (9.) Whatever has been 
thus fublimed, and freed from its phlegm, is 
again to be ground with twice its weight of 
, Salt of Tartar, and driven through a Retort, 
. the neck, or rather the Adaptor^ whereof lies 
• with its orifice in the water of the Receiver; 
, -: the Fire being now kept up for three or ft 
hours fucceflively, and at laft increafer* 
Fire of Suppreffion : by wliich 



j.r. 7^5e. Mercuries ef Mehk 

ning Mercury wiH be found ill the Rccicver, 
(lo.) It may likcwife be proper to ky fine- 
plates of Gold in the Water ; that the M?r- 
cury detain^ among it in form of a thinaqueousi . 
vapour may gradually come in contact with^ 
them, and be concentrated thereby ; from 
which it might be again feparated by fimple 
diftillation, and added to the refl^ ( 1 1 . ) Thii- 
Operation indeed may likewife be perforni'd 
in a fhorter manner, without the abftraftion 
and cohobation of the volatile- Spirit \ butirt 
both cafes the Sublimation muft be performed 
with a deal of gentlcnefs. Thus one third. 
of the whole weight of the Regulus employM^ 
may be actually converted into running Mer- 
cury \ and this not in the way of a contingent,, 
but of a regular and certain Experiment. 

6. There is another Experiment for the Tame^' 
purpofe, bearing fome relation to one direftcd in ftt 
the Concordantia Cbymica^ which has been late- 
ly recommended to me. It confifts in taking one 
j^rt of Antimony J or rather Regulus of Antimmy^ 
and two parts of Salt of Tartar, and grinding 
them well together upon a Porphyre, with the 
addition of Water, fo as to brin^ them into 
a foft pappy Subftance % then mixing there- 
with four times its own weight of crude Tartar^ 
reduced to very fine Powder. Having put them 
together into a Vial, water is to be poured to 
them till it floats three or four inches above them*; 
then the Orifice of the Glafs being clofed, it is to 
befet by, only obferving to (hake it three or four 
times eveiy Day. When it has Itdod thus for fe- 
veraldayjj, the matter is to be taken out and 
pur, by a fpoonful at a time, into a tubulated 
Retort, glazed on the ihfide, and placed in a 
Aeat ofSi^nd j obfervit\g to v^avi uU ^l\^ woife ^ud 



The Mercuries x^fMeiah. Suppi 

ebullition cnfuing upon each Injeftion ceafes, 
before any more is thrown in. When the whole 
quantity is thus ferved, the Fire is to be increafed, 
fo as that the matter may become. well dry'd in 
the Retort ; upon which it muft be taken out^ 
and diftiird or driven fer defcenfum into Water, 
after the manner of Lattgelct^ Operation •, the 
Fire being gradually increafed, and at length 
turn'd to a Fire of fuppreffion for the purpofe, 
7. Becber alfo recomnie.nds the fame Operation 
b'Bc' in his Pbyftca Subterrar.ea^y where he propofcs 
Saline Mediums as fitteft for the bufinefs of Mer^ 
curification : becaufe they are of an alkaline tex- 
ture, and fo, as it were, of an exceedingly fub- 
tile faponaceous Subftance. On this account he 
principally recommends above the reft, a Salt 
compoledofSal-amnnioniac and Salt of Tartar, 
or fuch a Suit as remains for the Caput ?nortuum 
upon preparing the volatile Spirit of Sal-ammo- 
niac ; wherewith he likewife compares the mix- 
ture lately mentioned, confifting of Salt of Tar- 
tar and crude Tartar. In both, cafes he approves 
and recommends the fix'd alkaline Salt of Tar- 
tar made volatile, as the capital thing in this bu- 
finefs ; which indeed the anticnt Chemifts alfo, 
but particularly the principaLof them, Baftl Fa- 
lentinc?indi Ifaac HoUandus generally do ; whillt 
for this purpofe they direft the ufe of Tartar, or 
rather exprefsly declare that Tartar vivifies Me- 
tals. Thus Ifaac HoUandus^ for inftance, teaches 
us in a certain manner to prepare the Tartar he 
fpeaks of + ; viz. by reducing it into the true 
Liquor o^ foliated Tartar, or Salt ofTartar, which 
is thus made fluid and fufible by me«ins of feve- 
ral incerations, with Vinegar and Spirit of Wine. 

♦ Supplement. II. Thd',^, pag. 791,79}. §. 190*1? 



5,1. The Mercuries of Metals. 

rho* it fhouM fccm that Salt ofT'artar fo prc^ 
pared and brought to fuch a degrecof fixcdncis 
IS he mentions, wou'd rather have the cfted of 
Fixation than Mercurification. 

The Volatilizations of Salt of Tartar^ rccom-. 
mended by Becber^ doubtlefs here deferve our 
confideration ; but among the Proceffes he di- 
refts for this purpofe, there is a little inatten- 
tion, where in the Marginal-note he mentions 
the method of making a volatile Salt from Oil of 
Ftirioli whereof we find fcarce any notice taken 
in the Text * But in his Minera Arenariaf^ 
he glances at tht preparation and wonderful effi-- 
cacy of the Pbilofopbical Spirit of Urine from Vi^ 
triol ; and immediately after, in the next con- 
cealed C«^mV(//«j, dcmznds bow it Jhall be demon^ 
ftrated tbat tbis ajlral Salt of tbe Vitriol is 
Mercurial |(. The anfwer to this queftion feems 
to be found in the Concordantia Cbymicaii 
where he orders us •* to pour the ftrongeft Spi- 
" rit of Vitriol upon calcined Tartar, and af- 
" terwards to abftraft it with a gentle heat, 
" when what is thus abft rafted being reftified, 
" will becojTie like Spirit of UrineP After 
this, he direds us to diffolve Gold in the ftron- 
geft Jquare^idy to precipitate the Solutioa 
with the Spirit juft now mentioned, to digeft 
with a moderate heat, and filtre the liquor,£5?r* 
And thefe Procefles of his ** we recommend 
as highly proper for the various Mercurifica*^ 
tions of Metals. 

Cc 2 There 

* Supplem. II. in Phyfic. Subterran. pag. 791. §. 190. 

t Pag. 861, 86i. 

II Sec Concluf. feu Synopf. ibid. Cunicul. f , 6. Edit, Fraa^ 
cofurt. An. i68i, 

i^Pag'. J14. N^.ji. 

*!!rU. in Concord. Chytn, p^fr^H^^• ^^>^V 



T%e Mercuries of Metals, ^pnj. 

There is another Procefs of his, fpr the fame 
purpofe, which alfo^ defer ves" our attention * \ 
where he fays, «' Let Gold be diffolved' With 
"' the three Salts of Aluni, TSTitrei and S.J- 
*• ammoniac -.that is, after the manner of ZwW* 
♦* /^r, precipitatctheSoiutioh with an aqueous 
•'Lixivium of Salt bf Tartar 5 and after a lit* 
«« tie di^eftion, filtre the liquor, *^hd again 
♦•precipitate it with Spitit of Urine. If now 
*« the precipitated Powder be mix*d with'Sul- 
•• phur, and camentedin a Sybliming-vcffcl, 
••'twill there rife into a Cinnabar j from which 
••if the falfihureous jpart be feparated, in the 
^^ common method of reviving Mercury from 
•• Cinnabars, a true running Mercun ^iH by 
•• that means be obtained/* To the fame pur- 
pofe he farther fays, in a marginal Note to 
nb Pbyjica Subtcrraneaf^ that Gold miiy be 
made into Cinnabar; and in the Context || dc-^ 
claresj he has found by experience that *' Gold 
•* by means of certain Salts, a;iz. Nitre/ Alum, 
" Sal-ammoniac, or common Salt alone 4:, 
♦♦with the fimple afliftance of trituration, and 
♦♦ coftion in common water, rnay' be fo re- 
♦♦ folvcd, as along with Mercury to pafs into 
•* Mercun^ and, upon the a!ddition of com- 
♦• mon Sulphur, rife into Cinnabar therewith •, 
•♦ whence it may be reduced to trdc running 
•♦ MercuT'^^ by beirtg barely feparated from 
•♦the Sulphur again.** And prefendy after 
this** he propofes in the marginal note an Ex- 
periment for the Mercunjicatm of Silver \ 
which he alfo fets down in his Coficorda/fta 
. . Cky] 

♦ Concord. Chym.pag.zjp. " " 

^Supplement. IT. pagSii. §.1/}. || Ibid $• *y*« ^ J 
; + ^(r> Concord. Chyn:, loc. cirat. .' I'''' 

5*#*upplcmcnr, lit inPbyficSuUcxTWL* 1%^X* 



Ipe^Jj^ing, pf t^C' fame matter tr that ^* mc- 
^•'. tpis rpay fee lublim^Cl iind fubtilizcd with 
.,** S^Vv^^^ipWji'^'^ ihq Spirit; thereof i; and 

. f* ^efc,by,,bcla;,^ifpof^ 
>' to .rcqMire^^nothvig buj; ito be revived for 
IjV that, PMrpofe/*' Andto this P/opofition may 
jj^ J ^ef^T'd. t^^ P;*pccfs, in, the Concordantia 
pp:fmica^ wher^» jurvder^a/w/^ bene^ it ia di^ 
retted ,^^ V to diffojyc .anyMfttal in Spirit of 
." ,tj.rinei tq filtrCitheiSolytion, and jprecipi- 

\[ ,f< jate it, (tho? whether y^ith Spirit ot Wine, 
.*^ brSpiritpfViF^io), is uncertain) tofublimc 
V tliie.-pfecipicatcd Powder, and revive the 
« Sublimate.^' 

.^8. We ought ftill farther tp confider under 
tpis Kead what ^(fri?^r ip his Itinera Armaria de- 
hyers a^ a. Comment upon Lullfs fetid Menjiru^ 
mX\ .where hp fays, that ** this fetid Men- 
" ft|:uum is not to be qnderftopd in a. literal 
•? fqif^, unl^s we, have a t mind to be impofed 
** upon/* ^j^nd toon after he adds, *' in the 
", f9urc/i Preparation, the fetid Menftruum of 
•* our mercurial Projii/uteis catch'd, which tho* 
** Ihe has. been poffefs'd by many, and thence 
", fufter'd re-adion, yet never pecamc preg- 
*^ nant, but infedted all flxe touched with a 
". merciifrial Diftempery. To folve thefe , dark 
prpl?lem§,^^ we feen) ^o l>^ye fome light afford- 
ed, us from the Concordantia Clfimica |||| ; where, 
undv the Title oi ^thi^Tranfmutation of the Spirit 
rfMercur^^ we are \)id to ** take of eflencifi- 
*' cated Mercury, or Mercury five times fub- 
Cc 3 " limed 

*— ■^— ^'■— III I ■———1—1 ii 

* Suppiem.IL in Phyfic, Subcerran. pag. 199. N®. 6. ; 
t Pag.ffii.> §.af4. 4: Pag. 314.N0* ja, [ L 

I) Pag.8p8,8y9,yoo,8cc, ||| Pag.4a9. Nf.jS, p 



The Mercuries of Metals. SuppI, 

*« limed with Spirit of Salt, and diffolve it in 
• *• the fix'd Water of Sal-ammoniac j then foak- 
" ing up the Solution with filtring-paper, cut 
. ♦< fmall for the purpofe, fo as to form into a 
>^ mafs, to diftil it in a Sand-heat; whence a 
•< yellow Spirit will come over/ which is to be 
♦« reftificd, and then coming over clear and pel- 
*« lucid like cryftal, it is to be kept for ufe. 
*« Obferve that this Spirit ofJMercur^ is to be.cir- 
•< culated in a clofe glafs yeflcl hermetically 
♦* fealM, till itrifesno longer^, but remains per- 
*' feftly fix'd at the bottom. Thus by means 
,«* hereof may be extrafted all the Tindtures 
'^< of Gold and Silver for medicinal ufes. But 
i«< it muft here be noted, that this Spirit ofMer^ 
" cur'j ought firft to be putrefied or digefted for 
f < a month in horfe-dung •, the containing veflel 
. ^« .being well clofed, to prevent any evapora-* 
4« tion : and thus it will become fweet to the 
♦« tafte as Sugar, and fine-^fcented as Amber- 
<< greafe; which is a hint fufficient." And in- 
deed this feems to explain what Bccher means by 
the expreflion above quoted from him, viz. that 
*« l\it fetid Menfirtmm of Lully is not to be un-» 
** derftood in a literal fehfe, unlefs we have a 
** mind to be impofed upon.** 
I What Becber fays in the fame place, * of a 
JhiniKg virgin Liquor^ and- in another f of a 
\tranfparent aqueous Liquor made from Mercury^ 
and equal to it in gravity^ alfo feems illuftra- 
ted from i\\t Concordantia Chymicd%\ where 
la Preparation of Mercury is order'd,* fo as 
that *^ at laft it may remains Pearl at the 
^* bottom 5 the Lujlre of Pearlsy or Jqua vitce 
** viva of the Philofopbersi which reduces all 
i *♦ mc- 



* Mider. Arenar. pag. Spj^ pod. f Ibid.pag.pi/. 
± Pag.jii. N^.ay, 



r 



§j; The Mercuries of Metals. 

<< metallic Bodies into their firft matter, and ' 
« the Philofophical Oil." For Becker de- 
clares * he certainly knew, that " Mercury 
«* receives an increafe from common Salt j and 
« that being often thus increafedj it acquires 
" an aqueous tranlparcncy/' He adds, "he 
** who undcrftands how to feparate (or ra- 
<< ther prepare) Sulphur from Salt, may allow 
*« with me, That not only the brightnefs of 
*' Mercury, but alfo the pearh fplendour^ is 
" and ought to be lodged in tnis Sulphur/' 
This Procefsjin the Concordantia Chymica^ ftands 
prefcribed as a means for making Mercury 
irom jyieials. 

9. The principal ufe of thefe Mercuries is ^ 
their advancement into Gojd, by a moderate di- ^^ 
geftion with highly fubtilized or philofophical JJ 
Gold i whence they are faid to be coagulated 
with it into a fix*d Precipitate 5 which if thrown 
into Silver or Gold in tufion, there proves and 
remains good and fix'dCold, 

But we are to know of this Operation, that 
both yon Sucbiefi^ and from him fi^^i^^r, fevc- 
ral times obfcrves, but efpecially in his Con- 
cordantia Chymicd f, that fuch fix^d Mercuries 
as being but fimply digefted with Gold, tho* 
they fuftain the Proof by the Cupel and Aqua 
forlis^ yet coming to be mix'd with the Mer- 
cury ofjintimony^ they are thereby prefently 
refolved mto Mercury again. And this Becker 
conceives to proceed from hence, that fuch 
Mercuriis^ through a defect or infufficiency in 
the Operation, are not intimately enough mix*d 
and fixM with their Earik. 

Cc 4 10. 

* Miner, Arcnar.pag. 899* "t t^Mtv* 



2 The Mercurieit Qf Mtmh.^ ^^^ 

HjfM JO, ^rA^rpropofes two Methods for rcmc- 

^le l^y^^S this inqQwenience, viz. (i .) where he fays ||^ 

y Glafs is.of fuch a nature, as to give entrance 

4* to every thing, to prefervc Metals in fufion, 

f« and to fix volatile Minerals, and mineral Va- 

>« poyrs i wiience the ancients defervedly called it 

•« the Lute and Seat of Phikfopbers s for it pre- 

«* ferves bodies from the fire, fo that they mall 

f « not be burnt thereby, and performs abun- 

*« dance of other ufeful things •, but efpecially 

*« in artificial Gold, whilft it remains yet ten- 

*' der, whereto it gives fixednefs, conftancy and 

f^ exaltation/* He adds foon after, that ♦* it 

** is hot proper immediately to commit this 

f^ tender Gold to the Cupel, as being not yet 

/< fufficiently conneftedin its parts, nor yet in- 

]\^ tcrwoycn with an earthy fubftance agreeable 

/f* to its effencci but firft to fix and embody 

* ' i^ it with fome good Glafs." (2*) He foon at-. ■ 

]ter this exprefsly propofes * the ufes of fuch me" 
tallic Mercuries in the way of augnientatipn j where ! 
he recommends *' inftead of crude Lead, the ' 
^^ Mercury theieof; inftead of crude Iron or 
f * Copper, their Sulphurs ; and to imbibe the \ 
♦* Mercury therewith •, and inftead of the grofs ; 
•* body of Glafs, to incerate with the Oil of Glafi 
*^ brought to a Precipitate f/' 
f^^^ II. We are here to obferve of the Mercuri- 
hT' Jications hitherto propofed, that Becber in his laft 
•^ , Work, the Comordantia Cbymica^ as alfo in 

• hisjudgvieni upon the dry* way of the Ttn£lure^ 
feenis, with feveral of the more accurate Che- 

. . jnifts, to rejeft this method of Mercurification by 
means of Salts 5 as not only corroding and talcing 
away the fulphureous arfenical part of the imperfeft 

jf Miner. Arcnar.pag. 918. . ' ' ^ Pag. pip. 
f See Rofer. Chymic.PvoccJLi* Co^«^^ 



§, 2t ^e P^ikfapbers Stone. ^ - ^5 

metals, • but by a . light digeftion^ th^ir metallic 
Sulphur alfo^ and py a longer digeMofi, even . 
that of Gold itfeff; whence it liappcns, tluit 
thefe metallic Mercuries have no advantages ovqr 
the common Mercury. Inftead of this therefore 
they rather recommend that other metho4 of 
M^fcurification-^ by vcitwi^QUommon running Mer* 
fury i which we have formerly delivered under 
the Title of Philoppbtcal Mercury f. 

But if it be found upon Experience, that 
this Mercurification^ by the refufcitating Sdlts^ 
does prove fo dcftruftive, and aftually de- 
prives a large part pf the metallic Mercuries of 
their Sulphur, by corroding ot imbibing it 
from them, a proper method may bethoi^hc 
of occafionally, for recovering it thence y and 
reftoring this metallic Sulphur to its own Mer-^ 
cury again : which might thus at once be co- 
.pioufly animated, and rendered fit cither for 
a metallic Increafe^ or for the Pbilofophicai 
ff^orkl 



... r. ■ , ^.-^ .. . *. 



S p C t. II. 

iTie Philosopher's Ston^. 

» . 

I. IT N expectation of fome ufeful, dr at Idift Msrfyc 
I fome curious knowledge it may lead to,^'|||^ 
we here intend an Hiftprical and Expcri-fiw'* 
mental. Jnquiry into the Subjeft of the grsat 
H^ork^ or PMlpfopher^^s Stone^ as it is vulgarly cf\l- 

led I 

III M l III ii ifi fi II < II I 1 II 1 1 1 I I i r ii ' » 

+ Sec fag. xtft ai6, 

# Sec Bccicr. Miocr. Aww. if*6«*n— »^^* 



[• TTiePhilofophers Stone: 

led } prbppfing thereby to Ihew in a fniall, com* 
pafs, what has been verbofely delivered about ic 
in feme thbufands of Volumes : whence we con- 
ceive, a right Judgment may be formed of the 
thing, andv all its Prctenfions. 
„Y,^^ 2. It has been handed down to us from the 
^ earlieft Ages, that t\it E^ptians m particular, 
a^'*and afterwards ihc^Arabians^ had a certain yfr/ 
among them, of changing the bafer Metals into 
the more noble, or into Gold and Silver. This 
is particularly confirm'd by the hiflorkal auibo- 
riiy of Suidaf i who writes, that the Egypiidns 
through their flcill in this Art arrived at fuch a 
I degree of Wealth, and thence of Pride^ as often 
caufed them to raife Seditions,: and revolt from 
the iJ^^i^;^ Government ; whence the Emperor 
Dioclejian, having found out the reafon hereof, 
: Ordered all their Books, then confiding only in 
Manufcripts, v/hich were wrote to preferve the 
knowledge of this y/r/, to be burnt, and the 
perfons who were (kilful in it to be put to 
;death. . 

The yfr> howevtir was ftill propagated among 
the Arabians \ whence fome particulars of it, 
wrote down many ages fince by Geher^ a cer- 
tain Regular of ^n/^iVz, are preferv'd and found 
amongft us at this day. 
r In the laft Age more particularly this Art 

Jagv was in a manner renew'd, and fpread over all 
,^., -E«r^/^, by the ftrenuous Declamations ofParn- 
'• '. ' celfusy whofe Writings, through the advantage 
. oi Printings at that time every where current, 
became multiplied in the world •, fo that by 
/a ftrange fatality, he rather inflamed th^n re- 
kindled the ftudy of this ^/7, among the Phi- 
lofophers, the Metallifts, and the Phyficians 
of thofe times ; all whom he nof only in- 
vited, but by his threau, aVvxvoft. c^ 



§,2# The Philofophers Stoni. 

into the Service. For tho* Ifaac Hollandus^ 
ZJ\iJiBafil Valentine had, hdoxcParac^lfus^ wrote 
much more folidly upon this fubjedl j yet 
their writings rather fculk'd in Manufcript, 
and lay here and there concealed, than ap- 
peared, like thofe of Paracelfusy every where 
printed and publifhed. 

Since the time of Paracelfus^ a deal of ^ 
labour has been employed upon this bufi-'lj] 
nefs, tho* generally without advantage-, the*' 
fedulous profecutors feldom obtaining more ^ 
from it than a fondnefs for the fubjeft, and 
an obftinate expeftation of one time gaining 
their end. 

For as all the knowledge and experience 
which Paracelfus himfelf had in this alFair, is 
commonly faid to have been communicated to 
him by a certain Arabian \ fo others likewife 
were never yet allowed by the Adepts, to have 
gain'd this point of themfelves, without fol- 
lowing fome faithful Guide, or receiving In- 
ftruftions, manual Dire<5tions, or making to 
themfelves a Rule of Procedure^ from a har- 
mony eftablifh'd upon duly comparing to- 
gether Manufcript-accounts, and various enig- 
matical Relations, whether thofe of Paracelfus^ 
or others. ' 

3. There are three famous Orders of thefe In- m 

Juirers after the Ppint \ and again fome others J^ 
erived from thefe ♦. 'J 

The firji of the three famous Orders are thofe, ^^ 
who, upon the authority of Paracelfus^ hope 
to obtain their end, and prepare the Philo- 
fopber^s Stone from Vitriol. The fecond are 
ihofe, who, following Sandivogiusy cxpeft to 

pro- 



'See 



pag. 



^6 ne^PhiUJhpHersSM. Suf^lJ 

. ^procure it from Nitre. And the third ^ 3ireft. ' 
cid by an ahohyhious Author, concealed un 
der the epithet of PbilaUt/Ja^ xlfirig as Com- 
: . mentators upon him dEfpa^neij von Suchten^ 
/ * and that very ingenuous writer GaJtoCldveus^ 
cxpedt to find the Secret in running Xleriury 
and Gold. 

R^r»J .. 4, The Proccfs from yitrtol^ is every where 
^fj^ handed about under that title, with the name 
wW* of one jfodocusyujltis von Rebe affix'd to it, both 
in. the Mariufcript and Printed Copies : but Dr. 
MulleKy Phy fician to the EleSfor of Brandenburg^ 
was the perfon wlio more clearly explained the 
Operation i Which Frideric Geijler took care to 
have copied out; and tho' he did not linderftand 
the thing, clappM this yerfe ds k Mbttd at the 
bottom of the Title : 

. ExcelleHs viridis hojlri Medicina Leohis i 
- , . •.. i.e. , 

The wonderful Rfcrned^ of our Green Lyon. 

More on which head may be read in Berlichius^i 
Inaugural Dijfertaticn Upon the iiniverfal Midi- 



ane* 



The Operation itfelf confifts in this, thai 
the more grofs parts be feparated from the Ft 
triol^ and the more fubtile; ' metallic . ohcs, o 
a golden nature, kept apart, to be exalted bj 
fuitable fubtilizations ; after which being ad 
ded to Gold, they refolve it, ate .rtiultiplie< 
thereby, and fo become the real Tin£lure. 

But of the probability or difficulty where 
with this Opinion or Operation is attended 
we Ihall foon have occafion to fpeak, in d 

* Cap. 1 1. 



jxiriiig the inpi:i^ of ( t\i^fbree famous Froctffes 

5. Af tqiJi? Pmefiof JSCurey wrtnuflr note,^ra.jn 
thuc a certain perfon who called YAmkXi iSandi^^^^^ 
voiius did feveral years ago give out a Theory^ 
and with it ^nx enigmatical PrefcripiionAor tht 
Pbljofoplficai fFork ; where amongft other things 
he affqrts, tljat the JirJ matter of the Pbilofofber*s^ 
Stone IS the /iir^ or rather cpntain'd in the jiir ; - 
but that the ^ Concentratiqn of this firji matter i%\ 
found In what he calls Virgin-Earth \ whence it 
may be cir^iwn, purified, and, at length reduced^ 
to the Philofopher''s Stone. 

The original Author of this Notion is fup* 
pofed to be onq Alexander Sefonius^ or Sido^ \ 
nmy with whom Sandivogtusy is a Stranger, 
lodged whilf^ undeV a fit of ficlaicfs in Eng- 
land}, but being furprizingly recovered, he was 
afterwards reciev'd into fonie degree of friend- 
flup, h^Setonius ; who in confcquence thereof 
made hipn a relation and confefllon of the Secret^ . 
only concealing, the manner of preparing it. 
But 5^/^«w coming to die foon after, iS^^we/i- 
vogius married his Widow, who ftill had in her. . 
poffelfion fome fcvv Drams of the T^inSlurey. 
which thys falling into the hands of Sandivo'-, 
msy he there^vith performed feveral pradtical 
Experiments: and thence being either temp- 
ted to pajTs for the original author, or coming^ 
to be, fo,efteem'd, he publifti'd fome Papers* 
wherein he couched the more confiderablc 
things he had either learnt in Converfation with 
Setpnius\ or taken from his valuable Manu- 
fcrjptis t* 

There 



•^^^ 7,8. 9,1 o,&c. of this Scdioq.. 

t See Bfcrhaave'f Hift.of Chemiary, pag.4r< 



The :Philofophers Stone. SuppI, 

There are fome, but particularly PantaUon^, 
who think the enigmatical Writings of this 
Author agree with the Opinion of Philaktba 
and Suchten\ and that they are illunderftood 
by others. 

6. However that matter be, this is certain, that 
cither the enigmatical or literal Profofttions of the 
Author relating to the Air, have had fo great an 
influence in the Wofld, as not only to induce a ve- 
ry large number of perfons who wholly employ 
themfelves in Speculation without Practice, to 
take up with them, but even to illiiftrate and fet 
them off. 

The fundamental Propofitio(n of Sandivogius 
may in Ihort be reduced to this, that the primi- 
tiveSubftance of the Philofopher^s 5/^«<fisunivcr- 
fally difpers'd abroad in the World -, and with 
regard to its ufe, is the general vegetative 
and nutrimental matter of vegetables, animals, 
and minerals ; that the better to perform this 
office, it is diffufed thro' the whole body of the 
Air, whence by means of vapours, rains, fnow, 
£s?r. it continually falls upon and influences the 
Earth, to fupport and maintain the growth 
and increafe of all natural bodies, but more 
particularly Vegetables by means of Dew, and 
Animals by the vapours of the Air, which they 
attraft ana refpire ; that this Suhjlance being 
coUefted from the Air, and thoroughly clcar'd 
of the heterogeneous parts, which either in 
the Air, by the manner of collefting, or du- 
ring the operation might accidentally come to 
be intermixed along with it, then digefted, and 
at lafl: fermented with Gold, may thus be co- 
agulated into the Pbilofopher^s Stone. 

Some of thofe, who underftand thisDoftr 
literally, having cnter'd upon the P^'^' 



J.2. ; T^he Philofophers Stonei 

found by their Operations that they obtained 
a nitrous Salt for their firjl matter \ whilft d- 
thers of them, thro* a difference either in the 
time, fcafons, manner of colleding, orwork* 
jng, have procured a Subftance like to com- 
mon Salt, both in regard to the figure of its 
cryftals, which is quadrangular, as well as its 
tafte : tho fome pretend that thefe cryftals ra- 
ther appear exceedingly like thofe that remain 
upon abftrafting the Spirit of Nitre from com- 
mon Salt ; in which cafe indeed the remaining 
Mafs being dilTolved and cryflal^lized, does, in 
the manner of common Salt, aiFord quadran- 
gular Ihoots, tho* it fulminates, like Nitre, a- 
long with Charcoal. 

A confiderable number of perfons therefore 
having thus feen nilrous Salt^ as from the figure 
of its cryftals, or its fulminating with Charcoal 
it appearMto be, procurM from Dew, Rain, 
or the Air, attrafted by means of Salt of Tar- 
tar, or the like kind of Bodies ; and finding e- 
very where in Sandivogius * a plain account, as 
they conceive it, " that fuch a nitrous Salt 
•' of the Earth has fuch a power of attraft- 
•' ing; that this attracting nitrous Salt was 
" Air at fii*ft \ and yet is found joined with 
" an unftuous part ot the Earth •, that becom- 
•^ mgRain^ it receives from the Air itsvivify- 
" ing power, and joins to it the nitrous Salt 
^^ of the Earth •," with other ExprefTions to 
the like tfFed-, and coming afterwards to 
add to this general Encomium of Nitre the 
Obfervations and Experiments of Digby^ as to 
the vegetation of Plants by means of a nitrous 
fubftance ; they all of them, being vvcary of 

their 



• Nqy. Luna. Cbyra, Epilog. pag.>-», &r. F.d.Ceocr.Ar 



ifhe Pbilofophers Stoned. Suppj; | 

tlK^r Refearches, or the laborious and tedious ' 
Methods required to e>ftra£b this Salt from I 
Pew, Rain-water, ^c* at length unanimoufiy 
confeft that iVi/r^ itfelf is the thing intended 5 
apd from which they muft endeavour to fepa- 
rate ^ztfatnefs of^ the Earthy fo. as tp reduce 
the Salt to pure Air again \ which in that State 
is, for* the bufinefs of the Stone^ to be joinM 
and concentrated with Gold. 

Cbriftopker Grummet in his little * Treatifc 
upon iVif/r^, which he calls the l}loodof Nature^ 
endeavour- d to give fanftion to this Opinion; 
where he (hews that by barely fufing Nitre a» 
long with Fenice-Ghkj the Glafs acquires a 
purple and amethyftine, or violet colour, ac- 
cording to the difterencc of the operation. This 
Experiment indeed, is not approved by t Kunkel 
for the purpofe it is here produced, who attri- 
butes the cffeA entirely to the Manganefe em- 
ployM by the workmen in clearing their Femce* 
Glafs-, yet the Experiment itfelf, whether die 
colour proceed from the Nitre or from the 
Manganefe, deferves to be farther confider*d 
and examined ; fince we Are otherwife affured, 
that in order to introduce this colour into glafs, 
the immediate ufe of Gold is abfolutely necef- 
fary, as the thing whereon the celebrated art, 
fo long loft and concealed, of tinging Glafs 
red, depends; and which, to the great advan- 
tage of the curious part of chemiilry, we find 
happily reftored in the little Treatife entitled 
Sol fipe vefte \\. •Tis this Art which fhews us, 
what makes to our prefent purpofe, that if too 
large a proportion of Gold be ufed, the Glafs 



• Von Blut Jfr Natur oder NitrQ, 
' '^ KunkeL in Append, ad Traftac. dc Pho; 



r 



^2. Tbe Pbihfophers Sume. i 

. will become of a vk^ coloiir : if therefore 
die lame colour fliould^ upon fiuther trial, be 
found to happen firom the bare ufe of Nitre^ 
the phienomenon woi^d well deicrveto be nar- 
rowly fearched into; in order to have ics true 
reafon difcovcrM*. 

:But upon the mod favourable fuppofidon, 
whether and how far Kure is a fit fubje& for 
the Pbiiofopbical fFork^ we (hall fee hereaf- 
ter f. 

7* The method by Mercury has at this day the jin^ 
greateft number of Votaries : though they clo not '^/' 
pretend to ufe it upon that fubftance as the Mines Rmi 
or the Ore affords it 5 unlefs any accident fhou'd JJ^ 
render one parcel more pure, or rather more 
impregnated with the Pbilojbpbical Sulpbur or Fircy 
than another. 

The authorities of a great many are here 

joinM to recommend a Subjlance^ in all re- 

fpeds like to common Mercury^ excepting in te^ 

nuity^ confiflence and gravity \ for the Pbilo^ 

fopb'ual Mercury is tb.cker and heavier than the 

common^ though ftill fitiid^ volatile^ and of a 

filver colour. And although common Mercury^ 

under the form we ufually buy it, is of itfelf 

noway fit for the intended work-, yet in our 

opinion, it may be fupplicd or impregnated 

with the requifice internal Fire or metallic Su'l- 

fbur^ fo as in its whole Subftance to become 

Philofophical Mercury. 

8, The fratlical PFriters upon this Subjeffyn 
^ all of them direft a purification of the common ^{J 
Mercury from certain arfenical Fceces which ad- w. 

here 2; 



1 



* Sec ^. 19. of thisSeftion. f Sec^. ao.of this Scd*- 

DA 



I \ The Phikfophers Stone. Suppl. f 

I here to it, But as for the Means of performing \ 
it, fome advife one thing, and fome another. 
; That candid and ingenuous Author PA//^/^/i^ ♦^ i 
places the method of doing it upon a noble | 
Foundation, where he fays, that *^ the Artifts ; 
** well confidering the Iflue of Saturn to be the : 
«« Bathof the 5«;/, as taking all impurities from 
; ** him, formed their argument i majori ad minust 
\ ** that it would do the lame thing alio for ; 
i <^ Mercury.'* But to fay the direft truth, the 
; whole thing refts upon fubfequent caufes 5 that ' 
i is, upon the intvodu&ion of tht metallic Sulphur ■ 
I or pbilofopbical Fire into the Mercury \ fo that a 
. .. ! fofttive Perfetlion^ rather than a privative Separa- 
" ' tioftj is here defignM to be obtain'd from this 
off-fpring of S^/^ri^, 

. 9. To give the Subftance of the whole affair 
in few words, the Patrons of this method direft 
their Mercury to be firft prepared \ and fecond- 
ly, by a gentle digeftion with Gold, continued 
for feveral fucceeding months, to be brought in- 
to the Medicine required. 

As to the particular manner of doing this, 
•together with the manual direftrons neceffary 
in fo long a v/ork^Philalethay d*Efpagnetj and the 
Author of the Marroiv of Alchemy^ have not a 
little broke in upon that obftinate philofopbical 
Silence^ which in this Affair has rifen even to 
a degree of Envy. Philaletba^ in particular, 
has fcarce left any thing unrevealed j where 
he candidly takes upon himfelf to correft 
thofe fatal Errors, as to the neceffary number of 
Rot at ions J or repetitions of the work, the^W- 
lofopbical Goldy and the Pbcenomena occurring 
in the different ways of managing or o 

dm 



lit.apcrt. Cap. 11, 



§.2. The Pbilofophers Stone. 

dufting the Procefs *. Whence we arc plain<> 
ly given to underftand how the Mercury ela- 
borately prepared, may be either advantage^ 
ouQy treated with Gold, or (till more profit- 
ably perfcdled by itfelf ; and this fo as greatly 
to morten both the time and trouble. 

10. Upon deliberately confidering the PraSltceNi 
of this method by-Mercury^ as it is here and there f^ 
by bits delivered in the Writings of the Au-w» 
thors above-mention'd, the whole amounts to 
this; viz. (i.) That the Mercury be animated 
in afufficient degree. (2.) That the Gold he pre- 
pared by the attenuations arifingfrcm the work it- 
felf^ and the materials employed therein \ that is, 
by fuch means as are homogeneal to the work. 
(3.) That the Mercury and the Gold he joined^ 
conco^ed cr confermented together \ whenc6 the 
Gold^ which is already attenuated^ will be farther 
fubtilized by the rightly prepared Mercury^ fo as 
at length to become not only highly fubtile, but 
alfo pcrfcftly volatile ; at which time being gra- 
dually and firmly interwoven among the Sub- 
ftance of the Mercury^ it now changes the figure 
of the particles thereof, and converts them into 
its own likenef:i ; whence the new Aggregate, 
from an alteration made in the ftate of the for- 
mer texture of its particles, is changed from a 
fluid into a folid, from a volatile into a fix*d 
body, {q as from Mercury to become a fubtile 
Gold, The Guld in this cafe will be fuhtiUy as 
having received a much greater degree of tenuity 
and penetrating power from, the Operation, than 
it had when added in a crude ftate to the Mer^ 
cury \ which alfoi is not here loofcly mix'd with 
it, but U'ansformM into a fubftance homogeneal 
Dd 2 to 

* Jntroit. apert. ad Occult. 9^c2«?«ht« ^lyfiu 



The PhilofophersStone. Suppl. 

to that of the Gold % wherewith alfo it is fo at- 
tenuated, that both of them arc now affimila- 
ted together into the Hime degree of fubtility. 

»c. • II. When f he Gold has been once thus pre- 

Jj, pared and attenuated, 'tis called philo/oj)hical 
Gold 5 and the Operation itfelf this firft time per-, 

Jj form'd ihtfirfi Rotation. 

^ This philofophical Gold of the firft Operation, ' 

is otherwife called the Medicine of the firft 
Order \ but not yet the T'mSlure^ becaufe at 
prefent it will tinge nothing : whence fome 
who have carried on the bufmefs thus far with 
fuccefs, and not undcrftanding how to pro- 
ceed, when they find no tinging effetl from their 
Medicine^ they grow out of conceit with their 
work, neglcft the farther profccution thereof, 
and accufe the Art as a cheat. 

The Produdion of this Operation is called 
pbilofophical Gold on account of its being fo 
highly attenuated, fubtilized, and brought to 
fuch an impalpable Powder^ that when mix'd 
in this form along with frelh Mercurj^ 'tis im- 
mediately diffolvcd thereby ; after the fame 
manner, to illuftratc the thing by a grofs 
example, that Leaf-gold is more expeditioufly 
andeafily ground into a fine butyraceous amal- 
gam with common Mercury, than fuch Gold 
as is only granulated or ufcd in the form of the 
coarfer Filings. But if even this fubtile Powder 
fhou*d, along with a little Borax, fix*d Alkali, 
or the like, be committed to a ftrong Fire 
of fufion, it wouM be thereby reduced to 
common Gold again •, tho* indeed the exquifite- 
ly fine particles thus firft form themfelves ir;to 
groflcr powdery maffes, which require a muc*" 
: longer time, and a much more intenfeagii 
vtion than ufual, before they will break ai 
^^narate. 



§.2a ' ne Philofophers Stone. 40 

A frefh parcel, therefore, of the prepared 
Mercury is again to be niix*d with this pbilofi^ 
pbical Goldi and digefted after the former man- 
ner, though widi a much milder re^men, 
and for a much Ihorter time, which is here 
fufficient. And this produces what they call 
the Tin£lure or Medicine of the feconjl order ; 
and the Operation fo performed, they call the 
feiond Rotation. 

The Operation is ftill again to be repeat* 7i»TW« 
ed^ with a frefli quantity of prepared Mercury ^"^ 
added to the matter -, and this they call the 
third Rotation : which prefents them with the 
TmHure^ one part whereof tinges a hundred 
parts of another Metal into Gold. 

Thefe Operations are by Pbihletba called 
Rotations or pbilofjpbical Circulations^ becaufe 
the/AfVSubftance of Gold, which in iht firji 
Operation is that of the vulgar, becomes m 
the fecond^ that of the Pbdofopbers % and in 
the tbird^ the Ttnclure itfelf, by volatilization^ 
which by a continuance of the fame means, 
conies round to fixation again. 

12. Befides that already mentioned, there '^'^Jf^*' 
another remarkable property of Pbilofopbicaltmr€9fVk 
Goldy viz. its difpofition to be multiplied or in- ^^^^ 
creafed ; which greatly recommends it to other 
ufes. Suppofe a parcel oUhis Gold by any means 
come into the hands of a curious perfon 5 if he ^ 
lhou*d apply the whole quantity to duly prepa- •''• 
red Mercury^ in order to the fecond Rotation^ and 
by any mifchance of the veffcrs breaking, or an 
improper management, the operation lhou*d fail, . /. \ 
the whole treafure might thus at once be loft : 
to prevent any fuch accident, therefore, it muft 
be known, that pbilofopbical Gold when once 
PoJTefi'd, may be increafcd ad infinitum : upon 



77fe Philofcphers Stone. Suppl, 

.which foundation Becber^s fifth Minera perpetua 
entirely depends. For, according to Clavcus^ if 
an equal quantity, or lefs, of pbilofopbical Mer^ 
cury^ht mix^d y/ith philofophical Gold^ and they 
are digefted or cemented together, with a pru- 
dent management of the Fire, the pbilofopbicd 
Gold will perfect more or lefs of the Mercury^ 
according to the time they are thus digefted to- 
gether. So, for example, if an ounce of philo- 
fopbical Gold were employed this way, it might 
in about the fpace of two months, be increafed 
to two ounces. And this feems not improbable, 
upon fuppofition that fucb Gold^ being put to 
foiir times its quantity of y«rA Mercury for the 
fecond Rotation^ requires the fpace of eight or 
nine months before the end can be fully obtained ; 
for according to this proportion, a fourth part 
of the quantity l[hou*d require only a fourth pare 
of the time. 

We may likewife here obferve, that fomc 
aflert the pbilo fopbical Gold is thus improved 
in quality as well as quantity^ by repeated aug- 
mentation ; fo that the fecond Increafe fh.ill 
be finifhed fooner than the firft, the third 
fooner than the fecond, i^c. till at length the 
, fixth or feventh may be perfefted in a week's 
time 5 whence a large quantity, as the in- 
creafe is always double, may be expeditioufly 
procured. 



• 



^f^ 13* If now we attentively inquire after the 

„^^ Materials requifite in tbis metbod^ vtt Ihall find 

f'^jj* them to be three \ viz. Mercury by ammation 

crwy. brought to a kind of emhryonated Gold^ golden 

Sulpbur^ or the pbilofopbical Fire^ whereon the 

whole fuccefs depends * 5 and the prepared Sub- 

ftance of Gold itfelf. The 

C 7» 8. of this Scdiion. 



§.2# 72^ Philofaphers Stone. 

The inftrumental, and formal parts of the 
Operation, zxtBigeftion^ and Confermefitattont 
or ajjimilatory Coagitation. 

But many of the Pbihfopbers maintain, that 
common Gold itfelf is no way cffentiaUy re- 
quired in the work : and Philaletba exprcfily 
affures us, that the ufe of it prolongs the Ope- ' 
ration to a hundred and ninety days, or more. 
His words are thefe : " You will not immc- 
" diately find our Gold in that of the vulgar % 
« though by digefting common Gold mi\ipur 
** Mercury y (or a hundred and ninety days, 
** the fame genuine matter may be obtained 
** from it, and is our Gold procured in the 
" long way \ though not indeed fo powerful as 
** that which nature leaves ready to our hands 5 
•* but it becomes as powerful by the third 
•* Rotation: fo that the fame thing may be 
" found in both, only. with this difference, 
** that with the former, where there is no 
** crude Gold employed, the work will be fi- 
** nifh'd in feven months -, but with the other, 
" not in lefs than eighteen.** 

14. The bufinefs therefore appears wholly to % 
reft upon the pbilofophical Gold^ pbilofophical Mer- '^ 
cury *, and pbilofophical Sulphur f. When the 
Mercury is but lightly impregnated with pbilofo- 
phical Goldj *tis then faid to be animated -^ in 
which ftate being amalgamated with common, 
Goldf which is firft duly attenuated and pre- . 
pared, it, by means of a long continued Di- 
geftion, and the agitation of the heat, comes to 
refolve the famej lo that the Gold being thus di- 
vided into exceedingly fmall particles, 'tis dif- 
fufed through the whole fubftance of the Mer* 
cury. and by the force of the fire, together coa- 

^ ^ Dd4 ''^^^ 

3^&c^-7,8.ofttoSc&iQii» ^ 



77>e Philofophers Stone. Suppl, 

gitated and volatilized with it : whence at laft 
the Gold does not only grow thick itfelf, but 
alfo thickens the Mercury at the fame time*. 
But if the Mercury thus comes to be impreg.. 
nated with a large proportion of ^hilofophicd 
Gold ; that is, whilft it remains in a highly at- 
tenuated and middle ftate, betwixt fix*d and vor 
latile •, *tis evident all that time will be favecj, 
which muft otherwife be necelfarily fpent in 
procuring the pbilofopbical from the vulgar Gold. 
tf 1 5. If it be here demanded in what Subject this 
'^pbilofopbical Gold is more immediately founds wc 
5 // can only ingenuoufly give it as our Opinion, 
that iht Animation (/Mercury being nothing more 
than an Introduction of a very fmall part of //;;- 
hfophical Gold into it •, by natural confequcnce, 
the Subftcmce wjiich contains only a little propor- 
tion of matter, that ought for this purpole to be 
thus introduced into Mercury^ does in a certain 
part of it contain a large proportiony that may be 
lb introduced. 

But as the Subjlance whence that introdu- 
ced into the Mercury is form'd, may be more 
particularly extrafted from Iron or Copper •, 
and is a Concrete confiding of a deal of the 
fecond Earthy or metallic Sulpbur ; on this 
Suppofition, they who have their eye upon 
Vitrioly feem not to aft abfurdly. For as ^i- 
iriol is nothing but Iron^ or Copper very fub- 
tily diflblved •, and as xht pbilofopbical Geld is 
allowed to lie concealed in Iron ^nd Copper j it 
muft of neceflity alfo lie concealed in VitrioL 

*«r. 16. But as to the manner of extrafting this 

']^ Subftance owt of VitrioU or the manner of fepa- 

. rating the fuperfluous and heterogeneous parts 

. of 



10. of this Seftion. 



L 4 ;^=^^gM^—i ^MM 

^2. Tie Pbilofopberi Stone. ^ 4 

of that Sale, fo as to obtain and prderve the ufe« 
fill one, which is but fmall, there are various 
Opiiuons, and Prefcriptions of Procefles. 

Some for this purpofe direft us to pro- 
ceed in a very fimple manner, by diflblving 
l\it Vitriol in Rain or other thin /Water, and 
digeCting the Solution ; upon which aquan« 
tity of yellow Farces or Oker will fubfide ; 
that is, a large part of the contained Metal, 
with the groflfcr acid, and fome earthy parts 
adhering to it, according as the Vitriol was 
more or lefs aluminous. When this Sediment 
no longer vifibly increafes, they order the 
Solution to be evaporated or abftrafted in 
Balneo^ till only a third or a fourth part of 
the whole is left behind ; which being cryftal- 
lized, they with a gentle heat, calcine the 
Cryftals to whitenefs, then again diflblve and 
digeft them as before ; continuing to repeat 
the whole Work till the cryftals upon being 
again diflblved and digefted, depofite no more 
fjeces at all. Laftly, they order thefe* purified 
cryftals to be diftilPd, and the matter that 
comes over to be digefted and reftified •, then 
the Suit extrafted from the remaining Caput 
rnorluumj being alio purified, and added to 
the Spirit before diftill'd and rcftified, they 
are to be digefted together ; and thus, they 
Hiy, the matter will be coagulated and con- 
verted into Q,fx*d tlngvig Salt. 

But this Procefs is confiderably erroneous *;£^^^^ 
for, (i.) If the Vitriol ht diflfolved \n common ff^cm^ 
Water, as it is here direfted, not only the^^^j^;! 
ufelefs parts of the attenuated Iron and Cop- 
per will thus come to be precipitated, but 
even their whole fubftance, and all it con- 
tains. (2.) 'Tis ridiculous to direft the cry- 
ftallization of the purified ^//r/W after the pi 
2 



) The Philofophers Stone. SuppjJ 

cipal part of the Metal it containM is fepa. 
rated by precipitation. For that part of the 
^/rW which is thus deprived of its Metal, 
will not cryftallize at all ; but upon contaft 
with the Air, rcfolve into an unftuous or 
mellaginous Subftance: and if any thing did 
fhoot into Cryftals, it wouM thus again be- ^ 
come entire crude VitrioU perfedt in all. its 
parts. So that if any good be from hence 
cxpefted, the Procefs muft regard, . not the 
cryftalline, but the mellaginous Subjlance of the 
Vitriol. 

rthod 17. Jfaac Hollandus proceeds upon another 
***• method *i and directs the Vitrioly after it is purl- 
fied and re-cryftallized, to be calcined in a clofe 
Veffel, with a very flow heat, to rednefs j and 
to diflblve the Vitriol fo calcined, in a large pro- 
portion of diftiird Vinegar, which is again to 
be abftrafted. The reniaining matter he again 
diflblves in a frefli parcel of diftiird Vinegar, 
and draws this off alfo in the fame manner ; and 
this he repeats fo often, till no more faeces fub- 
fidc in the Solution : then the liquor being ab- 
ftrafted for the laft time, he diftils the Coagu- 
lum in a Retort. When now, firft a yellow Spirit, 
then- a red Oil, and at laft a white Spirit are 
come over, he fays, there will remain a fix^d 
Snow-white Salt at the bottom of the Retort \ 
and this he orders to be impregnated with its own 
Oil, and coagulated by gentle digeftion. And 
the fame courfe of imbibition, digeftion, folution 
and coagulation is to be repeated, till at laft the 
whole Compound remains fixM ; yet becomes fu- 
fible as VV'ax, and penetrating as Oil. This 
Compound he aflures us is the Pbilofofber^s Sione^ 

the 



)Ieis Metallor. 



§.2. The Pbilofopbers Stone. 4: 

the TtnUure of Metals^ and the univerfdl Medi- 
dne for all humoral Difeafes. 

18. We find much the fame Direftion for this^'e/ 
purpofe in Becber^s Concordafitia Ckymica *, vf here ^ 
he frequently recommends the preparation of 
the Oil of Vitriol^ the Extratiioh ot the Salt from 
the Caput mortuum^ and the Conjunilion of them 
both into one Subftance. But particularly that 
Proccfs which he there has under the Tide of 
the Precipitation cf Silver^ deferves our atten- 
tion. 

He bids us, with hot Water, extrafl: the Salt 
from Fitriol calcined to rednefs ; and moif- 
tening this Salt with Spirit of Wine, to let 
it run into an Oil per deliqtiium in a Cellar : 
and fome of this Oil, he fays, being dropt in- 
to a Solution of Silver, precipitates the Metal ' 
enrich'd to advantage, and leaves the Aqua 
forth that diflblved it, fit for farther ufe. 

He has another Procefs to the fame pur- 
pofe -f, where he orders tlungarian Vitriol to 
be diflblved in diftilPd Vinegar, and the Solu- 
tion to be abftradled to drynefs ; then the dry 
Vitriol being reverberated in a clofe Crucible 
for twelve hours, it is again diflblved in diftill'd 
Vinegar, and the fuperfluous humidity gently 
abftrafted. One part of this red Vitriol being 
now fublimed along with three parts of Sal- 
ammoniac, the fublimed matter afterwards run 
fer deliquiumy and the liquor fo procured be* 
ing digeflied, for eight days, with Cinnabar ; 
if after this time the fuperfluous liquor be 
poured off^, and the Cinnabar thrown into ' 
melted Silver ^ the Silver by this means will not 
only receive an Increafe, but alfo manifeft fome 
proportion of Gold. With 

♦ Concord. Vitriol, pag.679. N*. fjr»&c« 
f Concord. Vitriol. pag.^t9% N^4. jig.-" 



The Philofophers Stone. Suppl, 

With this alfo agrees that otlier Experiment 
recommended by Becher in his Minera Aren<i' 
rm* •, and repeated in his Concordanlia Chy 
micaf. This confifts in digefting calcined 
Hungarian Vitriol^ for fome days, with diftillM 
vinegar, then filtring the liquor, evaporating 
it to the form and confiftence of a red Syrup •, i ; 
whereof we are to take three ounces, and five | 
of Cinnabar, and to moiften them with the fix'd 
TVater y>f Sal-ammoniac \\ i then the Mixture 
being greatly^ dried, the fame imbibition is to 
be three or four times repeated; Laftly, the 
dry Powder is either to be thrown into melted 
Silver, or rather to prevent the lofs of the 
Mercury, (three ounces and a half whereof at 
leaft are contained in five of Cinnabar,) being 
ground along with the Calx of Silver, let it 
be put into a Retort and diftill*d •, and what 
remains in either cafe, being firft fufed for fome 
hours, with Glafs t, is to be cupeird and treat- 
ed by the Depart. This Procefs Becher de- 
clares he had himfelf experienced with fiic 
cefs i and that he found none of the Silver 
loft, yet a portion of Gold conftantly ac- 
quired. 

In all thcfe Experiments a fmall particle of 
^t Golden Sulphur httnt in Vihiol becomes 
manifeft ; though indeed 'tis in all of them 
immediately reduced to an aftual accretion, 
and the fix'd body of cominon Gold -, which 
for the philofophical fFork^ ought firft to be 
detained for fome time in its fubtilized ftate, by 
i the volatile mercurial fubftance, and purged 
I of all the accidental heterogeneous matters that 

mighf 



• Pag. 87 1. . t Pag. 4J0. N**.4J. 

H See this defcribed, Ccncord. Chymic.pag.430. N* 
i Concord. Chym. pag.401'. N^.id. pag-*^* ' 
t86. N^.83. 6c Miner. Arenar, pag,8 



§,2. The Philofopbers Stone. 

might adhere thereto^ fo as at laft, along 
with this attenuated mercurial Subftance^ to be 
coagulated into a vtxvfuhtile and fix^d body. 

To this purpofe likcwife ought to be re* 
mcmberM, what Vigam * fays upon the Sub- 
jcft o{_ Vitriol \ viz. that Mr. Boyle obtaln'd 
his Ens Veneris by fubliniing calcified Vitriol 
along with Sal-ammoniac : where he likewife 
obferves, that the fame thing willbe produ- 
ced upon ufing the Salt extrafted with hot 
Vf2M.xixot\M\i^ Caput vtortuum of Vitriol^ in- 
. ftead of the calcined Vitriol itfelf. 

19. B\xt tis Becber f follicitoufly advifes, that^ 
I the feparation of this /^* J Sulphur in its pure ^1 
i ftate, free from all heterogeneous parts, does not ^ 
I fucceed fo well by means of liquid, corrofive, tk 
: faline Menftruums, as by means of femi-metallic^^ 
! Concretes i there can be no difpute but the 

' Operation performed with the martial Regulus of 
\ Antimon'ji and a running metallic Mercury^ wou*d 
iibc much more certain and fuccefsful than that 
;i by Vitriol^ or by means thereof* 

20. As to the method by Nitre^ we frankly ac- j„ 
knowledge there appears to us no fraSiical pro- «/ 

IhahiUty of fucceedin^ in it, befides that general n! 
one affertedby JSt-fii^r II, where hefuys, that the 
fccond Earthy or the fulphureous Principle^ to fpeak 
in his own way, lies concealed, unmix'd, or out 
of all metallic mixture, in Nitre. But the au- 
thor himfelf being very filent as to the manner 
of demonftrating this thing, except where he 
obfcurely hints fomewhat about converting 5/7- 
ver into Gold by Spirit of Nitre + •, we have but 
I little 

i ♦ McduL Chym. pag. f,6, 

t Miner. Arcnar. pag. 909. Phyfic, Subtcrran. Scft. VII. 

JH Ph/iic. Subtcrran. fub. inir. Sc pag. 118. N^. 14. 
^ Ai//i(?r. Arcnar. pag. 87 7. 

r 



The Philofophers Stone, Suppl. I 

little reafpn to expeft . any folid and pradkical f 
ftcps in this Method. But if any bn6 has got \ 
the wav of demon ftrating or procuring this Sub- I 
j^ance from Nitre^ he may, without doubt, con- \ 
join and fix it with Gold 5 and when it is thus \ 
fixM, digeft it with a freih parcel of the fame I 
matter, and fo repeat the Operation in the man- \ 
ner above mcntion'd. But unlefs the Method of j 
procuring this matter from Nitre be already known, \ 
our knowledge docs not enable us to direft how ! 
it may be thence procured, I 

We are indeed taught by Becher * to pro- , i 
cure an exceeding fubtile Spirit ofNitre^ which, I 
as he fays, contains the Soul of the Nitre^ and 
thence appears of a green colour. Of this 
Spirit he fays, " If it be put into a Cucur- 
" bit, and there be made to diffolve a little 
^^ Mercury^ and the Solution be afterwards 
*' evaporated, arid at length, with a ftrongand 
" proper degree of fire, urged into a very 
. . ** red Precipitate^ and this be thrown into 
** melted Borax, and made to flow well there- 
** with till the Borax vitrifies, and then the 
>V matter be poured out, it will prove a Glafs 
** of an admirably fine blue colour : which 
«« Glafs being again melted, then a duepro- 
" portion of Coals thrown in, and the matter 
** made to flow again, and ;iow poured out, 
" the Soul of Copper (it fhou'd rather be read 
*' the Soul ofJNitre) will be found in themid- 
• "die of the Glafs, condenfed from the blue 
." colour, and appearing tranfparent like a Ru- 
*' by t •" He fome time afterwards tells us ||, 
that " all the Mercuries of Bodies when they 
" evaporate, leave a red Jpot behind them in 



* Phyfic. Subtcrran, Se£l.V. pag.j/S, jj-p, §. ii8. 

f See ^. 6. of this Sedtion. 

U Phyfic, Subtcrran, pag. 4x1. §. 48, 



§.2. Tl^e Pbilofopbers Stone. * 4 

" Silver^** which he calls a ** mark of the 

*« immortal Soul of Nitre: and adds, " I 

«< couM here reveal a very great Secret (con- 

" cerning this SopI of Nitre) nay have already 

** done it fully, with all the neceflary cir-^ 

" cumftanccs, fo that nothing farther Is ne- 

<• ceffary but to pomt out the places where 
«* it is done */* 

21. But as all the Philofophers in this way ^^ • 
agfee, that the nearer the materials chofe forjjj^ 
their grand Work actually approach to the me- f^s'' 
tallic nature, the better the Operation will fuc- ^/Jj 
cced ; we do conclude, that the mod commodi-«^^«A 
ous Method of all, promifes to be that which lu^i 
proceeds with running Mercuries^ and reguline^^^^ 
Sulphurs 5 provided only that four things be very 
carefully obfcrved ; viz. (i.) The animation of 
the Mercury with Gold or Silver •, or if any one 
cou'd guefsat that other Subftance, which in the 
late Treatife, called the Marrow ofyilchemyfj 
ftands recommended inftead of Silver 9 for .the 
animation or amalgamation of Mercury with Re- 
gulus of Antimony. (2.) The neceflary philofophi- 

cal Calcination of Gold t* if this Metal be made 
ufe of, before it' is join'd with the Mercury. 
(3.) The degree of Fire requifite to the work, 
if Gold infubjlance be employed. And, (4.) A 
due repetition of the Rotations, 

22. It may not be amifs here by the way,, to 
add an Obfervation for the Hike of thofe who 
ihall happen to read Helveti'ts^s Treatife, enti- 
tuled Vitulus Aureus^ where the Artifl is intro- 
duced as giving Ilelvetius this fliort defer iption- 
viz. that " his work proceeds upon two Mine. 

*' rab, 

♦ Phylic. Subterran.pag. 35*8, jj-p. 
f Kern d^ Alch^mie, in Praef, Context. 8c Append. 
^ See the head of Antimony, 



^he Philofophers Stoniy^ SuppL 

** rals, is pcrformM in Crucibles, in the fpace 
** of four days, from firft to laft, and re- 
^* quires no greater expense than that of three 
** Dutch Gilders.** When any one comes to 
confider this defcription, let him at die fame 
time, from another quarter find out what the 
pbilofophical Calcination of Gold means $, that he 
may then remember the words ofClavefis *. Nor 
does it matter whether it be that fluid ^nck- 
ftlver or no, provided it is thoroughly purged 
of all manner of faeces, and fubftances hetero- 
geneous to the nature of Quickfilver. And in- 
deed/ the more perfcftly it mall have been con- 
coded, the nearer will it become that Subjcft 
remarkably hinted by Becher^ when he makes 
the Query, .** How (hall we procure fuch aSub- 
. ** jedt free from all heterogeneous faeces, which • 
** at once fhall be the Mercur'j of Bodies^ and 
'' yet not fluid?** And anfwers to it,.** Let 
** this be obferved of the Leads ofLeady Iron 
*' and Antimon'j +.** 
ofo^ 23. What we have hitherto faid upon this 
Jj}r Subjedt, and the Examples all along produced, 
hat make it clearly appear, thdX i\it philofophical Sul- 
pktir is neceflary in this work^ from what quar- 
ter foever it be procured, or how much foever 
it approaches to or recedes from the metallic 
nature, in purity and degree of fixednefs || : and 
as, at the fame time it has appear'd, what Ope- 
rations are more, and what Icfs fuitable to this 
purpofe; a tolerable Judgment may thence be 
immediately form*d of any Procefs propofed for 
a praftical Trial. Com- 



4: Sec Miner. Arenar, Bcchcr.fub. Miner. Philof. Cl 
pag. 88i,&c. 
. * Id. ibid. 

f Miner. Arcnar. pag. 881,881. & in Cunicii' ' 
Edit. Fi ancof. An. 1 68 1 . See alio the Uoi^ 

II See ^. 7> 8. ot this Seaien. 



f 2t 7^e Philofaphers Stand. 4 

Common Sulphur itfelf has a very remarka- ^/'^ 
blc efFeft to this purpofe ; according to whatph^ 
we find in the Concordantia Cbymica under the^'*' 
Title of a " Procefs and wonderful fVork ofCbe-^* 
** mijlry^ ov^perfe£lh new Manner of prepa- 
" ringtbe tlNCTUREpctfe^bymeansof 
** a continual Sulpburation : a remarkable Ope- 
^^. ration ^.'^ The manner of performing it 
b this: A quantity of Silver was in a melring- 
Teft, kept conftantly fufed by day, and ig- 
nited by night, for fix Weeks tc^ether. Du- 
ring the day-time, little bits of Sulphur were 
continually thrown behind and near about the 
Containing veflel ; fo that the fume, or ratlier 
the fubftance of the Sulphur was, in the burn- 
ing, ftrongly driven, under the form of flame 
and grofs fmoak, or flowers, upon the melted 
Silver^ and made inceflantly to play upon its 
furface, and infinuate itfelf into the fubftance. 
To promote which end, the Furnace was alfo 
artificially contrived for the purpofc, and the 
veflel containing the Silver placed in a tube, 
as it Were, under a Muffle that remained every 
where clofe but at the mouth, which flood con- 
ftantly open. The Strufture and contrivance 
here required, may be conceived by confi- 
dering the ends propofed to be anfwer'd -, 
which depends upon three things: viz. (i.) 
That the Silver with its veflel may be put into 
the Tube. (2.) That the Sulphur may be 
cbmmodioufly thrown behind the veflel con- 
taining the Silver: and (3.) That the fume of 
the burning Sulphur may conftantly drive in 
upon, and pafs over the furface of the Sil- 
ver. 

The 

* Caacosd.Chjm.B€tbir.t^' 190. N^. /• 



: 8 The PhilofopheriStotie. Suppl. 

,,' .■ The Eflfeft of the. Operation is faid to have 
been fuch^ th^t in courfe of time the 5/7- 
VcT became firft black, then white again, after 
this, .yellow, and at laft red \ or even of a ve- 
ry deep ruddy or blood colour: and alfo ap- 
' piear'din the form of a very fubtile Powder: 
which Powder of itfelf had no entrance at all 
\ into melted Silver \ but being projefted upon 
. twice its weight of fine G^/^, mix'd itfelf there- 
, with, and tranfmuted into a glajfs Subjlance^ 
: which in an inftant mix'd with melted Silver^ 
« fo as to change a hundred and fixty four times 
J Jrs own quantity thereof into perfeft and moft 
.",. . permanent Gold. During the fix weeks the opc- 
. ration continued, the matter was often taken 
out, at which times it was obferved to appear 
. : like a vitreous body ; and being beat or ground 
fine in a mortar, it was again fet into its place 5 
^ and the fulphuration all along continued by 
i day : So that for the conduct and fuccefs of 
, the Experiment it may well be called, as it is in 
• ; the Title, A remarkable Operation. 
''.-:: Becber exprefles his thoughts of this Procefs 
, in his fourth Mineraperpetua *, thus : ** Mon- 
t " lanus^ fays he, relates a remarkable Hifto- 
\, ." ry of the flame of Sulphur ading upon mel- 
.. ** ted Copper^ for a long time together ; as it 
1 . *> ftands quoted by Morboff in his Epiftle to 
*' Langeldi. But I am acquainted with ano- 
** ther and a much more remarkable Metbod to 
** this purpofe, with the full Praxis thereof: 
♦* and do now at h;ind poffefs a written Hifto- 
« ry of the thing, tranfcribed from a very an- 
- ** cknt Codex 9 at a certain part thereof which 
** well deferves to be credited ; wher 
" means of a continued artificial app 



*l'afi.8tf(f. 






ji2V Ttbe Pbihfopher $ Stme^ \ 

^« of the flame of Sulphury Silver h tum*d into 
♦< G/tf/5, and the l^in£iui'e\ and this alotig with 
•* fomc Obfcrvatiohs that arc not common/* 

24. To the fame purpofc J?^fi&ifr in his Jud^€M9i\ 
ment or Advice upon the Pbilofopber^s Stone*^^'^^^ 
has good reafon to caution us ^^ not to negleft^ 
^* thofe Experiments which fliou'd perform a re- 
^^ al and aftual tranfmutation of Silver into G^/^^ 
« tho* to no profit ; becaufe it might from thence 
" be coUefted that the Matter which the Phi- 
^^ lofophers call their Ftres may lie conceaPd in 
" certain Subjefts ; provided alfo it be farther 
^< ConfrderM in what Subjefts it is thus more 
" flentifulN concealed^ and by what Methods it 
" may with eafe be thence extracted, purified, 
"ancifixMt." 

To this Admonition we have farther to add $ 
that whatever SubjeSls are found to tranfmute 
Silver info Gold^ tho' without profit, or feven to 
fome fmall lofs, deferve to be treated with 
Gold ihftead of Silver j the work being fo of- 
ten repeated till the Gold plainly appears to' 
have become another thing j fuppofe 2Lperfe£l- 
Iv red Sub/lance^ of a middle degree of fixedncfs. 
And when fuch a fubftance is thus procured^ 
let it either be treated with Silver ^ or aflifted 
with fxing Glajjfes^ or employed in Mercurial 
Labours. For whatever over-perfefts Gold^ 
will in the fame proporrioh perfeft Silver. It 
feems a moft remarkable Obfervation of 5^- 
^i?^r proceeding upon this foundation, and ad- 
vanced in his Concordantia Cbymica ||, where he 
fays that the Introdudlion of the £!xtra6tion of 
Iron into Silver may be promoted to profit by 
Ee 2 the 



^ Concord. Chym, pag. 7i^<— \o^. 

f Sec Coacord. Cbym. pig. 95*. ^^^^- 5^^ ^^'^ * "^"^ ^'^'^ * 



"the Philpfophers, Stone. Suphf. 

the addition of Gold in fubftance. Then coming 

to. diredl the preparationof the Crocm Marin for 

this purpofe, he bids us '* fublime it four times 

• . . •^ With anequal quantity of Sal-ammoniac,edulr. 

\^ ^^Gorate the Sublimate with Water, dryi't^ancj 

<y iatucate it four timeS: with a Solution of Lead 

'<<! made with diftiird Vinegar, then projeft 

*f it upon G^^ and S'ilvtr \ whence profit will 

•< arife." And at the end of the Procels * he 

' Ikys cxpreftly «♦ by putting fine G^/^, after- 

•" wards to the Stiver^ I have from thirty 

" grains recieved forty." In other places f, to 

the fame purpofes, he farther teaches, hpw to 

fernient the Extraftion of Iron with Gold. 

^ mnd 25, We muft here obferve that even the Txnc- 
!^f*^«/rif itfelfi according to the general confentof 
^^^ Authors, will not immediately cnttr Silver^ nor 
any of the other Metals, but only Mercury •, 
arid fomething of the like kind was lately obferved 
of Silvery cohverted into the Tincture by SuJphu- 
ratibni which firft required to be melted with 
Gpt'd^.. A Procels to which purpofe we like- 
wife have plainly defcribed by Philaleil^a'i: but 
Becher ** has feveral: others upon, the fame foun- 
dation, vVhich well deferve tobe<:onfider'd:+t. 

26. But as the Mercurial Procfjfes defign*dfor 
obtaining the Tinfture are not wholly confin'd to 
running Mercury y oi which method we. have al- 
ready treated, but are alfo in part founded upon 
the Principle of Mercury j or certain Mercurial Li- 
^uo'rs'y we muft here obferve that the fanious 

* Sec Concord. Chym. pag. f66. N®. i8. 

t Ibid, pag, f 63. N*. 11. pag. 80^; N*. 14. 
' . 11 P2g-«^31« §*^^*. t Iorroic.Apect.c;;ap^34' 

«* Ste Concord*. Chym. pog. 41!^. N^«:i4. 
11,11. pag. 66 J, (^c. 

ft Sec pag. 11 !.$.$. pag. 114, $. 7^f 



§.2, ^ The Pbilafopbers Stone^ i 

Jdqfitefn'jder firft propofed a Specimen of this lat- 
ter kind to the IPnbiick; where he endeavours to . 
join the metallic Sulphurs (extracted frprn Jr^wand 
C(?/>/?ifr^ highly purified and atteniuated) alojjg with 
GoU^ which is alfo moft fiibtily refolvfed •, and 
by mean? of a certain Antimon]al and Mercurial 
Liquor y made after the manner cX Butter df An- 
timonyj but very higly reftifi^d, to incerate them, 
unite them together ^^r minimcty and at ]aft to fix 
them 5 which is all he propofes by his numerous 
Enigma's and dark Expreffions, . But if any one 
defires a more particular informatron in this mat- 
ter, he may confult Digbfs Chymica! Experiments^ 
where he will find fome ]?roceffes exprefs to this 
purpofe *, and compare them along with Becber*s 
onObfertivas upon Butter of Antimony ^ of which 
there are feveral in the Concordantia Cbymica "t". 

27. Thofc Proceffes for the Work are of an- Pi* 

other kind, which have for their bafis Mercurial [^ 

OilSy which are aftually Compofed of running "p* 

Mercury. Of this kind we have one in the Co/i-^^^' 

cordantia Chymica ||, which proceeds thus. ** Dif* 

*' folve Gold in an ^^//^ r^^//z prepared with Ni«* 

" tre and Sal-ammoniac ; digeft, and frequent- 

** ly cohobate the Solution, till at length, with 

*' a Fire of Suppreflion, the dry matter is totally 

*' fublimed into red Flowers or Cryftals. Then 

*' difiblve crude Mercury or Mercury-fublimate in 

<^ Aquafortis^ abftrad the Solution, and let the 

*' Mercury that remains behind be fublimed ./>^r 

** fe in a Cucurbit fo many times, that at laft it 

« appears to flow at the bottom like Oil or 

^* wax, with a very moderate heat. Into two 

*^ parts of the Mercury^, whilft it is thus made to 

E c 3 " flow, 

» • 

-7 - ■ ■*^— ^ 

* 5W If er's Secret, pag. 1 (S, 1 7, 1 8 . . 
f m.pag. 800. N^ 1 1,14,1^,18.19,14- "^ F»g? ^^-T 
- .a/;, item pag. i^u &c.^ . || Pag..79$'N?-4j 



cur 



I 



22 fhe Pbilofqpber^s Stone. SuppJ. 

<< flow, put one part of fubcilized Gold^ and let 
«« jthc matter be conflantly detained in this liquid 
«f ftate, till, in about the fpace of four weeks, 
** it be converted into a Precipitate that will both 
«* enter and tinie \ or rather into a fix'd Precipi- 
V tate, which being thrown into melted Gold oi 
^^ Silver^ will in its whole Subftance become ggod 
M and permanent Gold/* 

In the fame Colleftion of Becber there like: 
wife occur two or three more Pfocefles to th( 
fame purpofe * j the foundation whereof prin- 
jcipally confifts in the preparation of a very at- 
tenuated Mercurial Subftance^ which may verj 
fubtily penetrate Gotd^ particularly when right< 
ly difpofed for it by various operations, divide 
it and accrete thereto in Atoms. Whence up 
pn feveral times repeating the work, the GoU 
itfelf is thus render'd exceedingly penetrating 
fubtile, and capable of being every way difFu^ 
fed and extencled to a very great length ^ f( 
jthat it readily penetrates the other inercuria 
Metals \ and not only materially accretes there 
to, but at the fame time formally and cfFeftive 
ly digefts, ripens, and brings tnem to a ten> 
perofperfeftion. 

Dhtai.:i **• If any one therefore (hall by the Procef 
•y*'*/^ qf Snyder J or any other of the like kind, procur 
o/^^f this high degree of fubtility to Gold^ which the] 
Z^^Mt ^^9^'^^» -^^^ y^^ ^^^ ^^^ obtained the Pbilofopbi 
tMs •/' cal Goldj nor the Pbilofopbical Calcination of th< 



'iTstSw t;«/^4r ^old \ let him remember that thpfe things 

^TinOiirf. whatever they are, which greatly encreafe th 

fubtility of Goldy may be ufed inftead of tha 

which gives it the greatcll degree of fubtility \ th 

dif 

* Cbocford. Cbym. pag.8o8|8o9« N?« \\\\x^ 



wmmmmmm 



§.2. Tbe Phtlofophers Stone. 

difference here being not fpecifical, but biily gra* 
dual *. 

29. For a Conclufion of this Effay upon tl^ 
Ph:lofopbical Tinflt/rey let it be obferv'd in gene* 
ral, if anykindof Subftance, of whatever colour ^ 
that is very ponderous^ ^nAmore or lefsfix^dj hap- 
pens either in profecution of this work, or any 
other operation, or by any accidental means, un* 
cxpcftcdly, to come to hand j lYiztfucb xSubJiapfce 
defervesto be thoroughly examined, as to its rela- 
tion and difpofuion to mix v/ith Mercury^ Silver^ 
and Gold. And all the Inquirers or curious Per- 
Tons in this way fhouM have conftantly imprefs'd 
upon their Minds thofe three remarkable Hiftories, 
but efpeciall y the middle one, which Becher gives 
us in his Subterraneal Pbyfics + *, and to thefe may 
likewife be added another in Berlichius*s Dijfsrta- 
Hon upon the Univerfal Medicine. For that which 
happens but feldom, may happen unexpeftedly. 
But if any one (hou*d ever be fo happy, as 
beyond difpute it has feveral times fortuitoufly 
happened, either by his own labours, or by 
communication, in the way of prefcnt, to re- 
ceive any thing of this kind ; let him very 
carefully endeavour to increafe it by all po0i- 
ble means. And to this purpofe, let him well 
confider the Admonitions and the Hiftory of 
the Author of that Treatife called the Marrow 
of Alchemy \ at the fame time bearing in mind 
the diverjity which Pbilaletha obferves m the 
WorkitfeU, ?sidil\i^ preparation of the Goldm- 
tended for it, with regard to the Colours \ led: 
ke alfo, like the Author of the Treatife aboye- 
Ec 4 " mention'd 



• Sec moic to thii purpofc in Dighf% Chymic^l Expcrf- 
mcrirs, ficRofct. Chym. Etcher. Procds. i»»,) 4>f«^*7^* 

t Phyfic. Subtcrran. ScftJILcap.}. pag. 1391 &f\ ir,?4» 
1/116^ quiWs addas etiam 8C17- 



The Philofopbers Stom Suppl. 

mcntion'd, (liouM throw away his Trcafureaf-' 
. ter he had fpund it ||, 

! ' But as the Cautions with regard to all 
i ^hefe cafes are fundamentally circumfcribed and 
I rdefinedby theDmv7^/^i//, which, without all 
i difpute governs and direfts the thing itfelf and 
I its fuccefs» according to the various Intentions 
! -or moral Circumjlances of the Perfon \ let every 
1 one examine himfclf by this Rule, and accor- 
; dingly expeft fuccefs or fliilure, in his at- 

jtempts. As for the thing itfelf^ or the hare 
1 manner of preparing Phtlofoj^hical Gold^ we 
j phyfically efteem it much lefs confiderable than 
! the fowing of Corn, or the making of Bread, 
I But with regard to its moral value and t:fe^ it 
! might indeed be ineftimable to one who flaouM 
i employ it well, and as deftrudlive to another 
{who fliou*d employ it ill: We are therefore 

firmly pcrfuaded that the Divine Providence 

has a necefJary Influence and Difeftion over 
' thefe Things, 



II SccXi?r»dcr Alcbymic in Pracf, 



F J N IS, 




^^WMm^MiiHihFV 



A N- 



Alphabetical Index. 



ACcenpon fuddcnly changes Oils intp Soot^ /^^t 
I3Q 
Jcid^ uoWerfal, wbtr and wfaencei f 5i 79 
AcidttU^ but Jmperfeftly underftood^ aoi^&ot 

Jggregatts^ whence their Solidity, 
How afifeded by Refolution and Oi0blttdoO| 
Diflblved into their integrant parts, -^ 

How by Comminution, «— — 

Refolved into their integrant parts, «-» 
How by Comminution, ■•» 

Jggregation^ its connexion whence deftrojed, 
^/r, what, - — — — 

The Caufe of progreffive Motion, — — 
Compared with Water, ■ 

Its proportion to other bodies, ■ 

How applied in Chemical operations, 
jSlabafter calcined, — ■ ■ ■ 

jllkahefi, what, — ^. 

Jlkali, fixed, whence produced, — — 
How incrcafed in Strength, 
How made fixed and corrofive, 
Its properties and phenomena. 
Its Cauftiit force, — 

Its ufc in making Stellate Regulus of Antimooy, 

sti4. 
The nature of its Cauftic prcfperty, — 1 47ii 4S 
Made to difier by the manner of its Coagula- 
tion, ^' "^ 140 
How procured in greaterplenty, p— « 141 
How procured without Vegetables, •<-— ■ 14a 
~ Of Jkin to Quick-ilu^e^ i » 1 50 





INDEX. 

JilkaUm Concretes^ how inade» 
jitkaUne Spirits^ how kepu ^ 

Jilumt what, 

Its component parts, -i«» 

How refolved, .— . 

jSmalgam of Gold, how made. 

How fitted for Gilding, 

How applied in the fmall work, 

Its ufe in Gilding, «-— 

How applied in the large work, 
Amalgamation^ what, ~— 

How it fepfirates Gold , ~ 

Jimber^ affords a falinc volatile Subftance, 
jJmb€r*Scoridt, their nature and ufe, — 
Animals^ how they differ from Minerals, 

Contain a volatile Salt in their Urin^, 
Antibe£ticum Tcterii, wh^t and how pbtained, 55^1 

357 
Jntimoniupt Diafhoreticum^ what, •— — 353 
jintimony^ converts all Metals, except Gold and Sil* 

ver, into Scorid^^ — — ■■■ 37 

Its component parts, ■ ib* 

Abounds with Sulphur, — — 145 

Its Sulphur explained, — - I77ii78 

Tum'd into Butter and Cinnabar, ■ . ' . ■ ib. 
Made to afford a highly fubtilia^ed Sulphur, 179 
How feparated from its Ore, — — * tf 5 

Its Nature, — i— - 347 

Howcompofcd, — mm^^ jb^ 

How calcined, — - ■ ib* 

.How converted into a grey powder, 348 

How fublimcd, — — - .-— »• /^. 

How vitrified, — .^ -.. i^. 

How fufed with fixM Alkali, ' 34^1349 

Its Tinftures how prepared, — ^ 3 5 7,3 j8 
Its Chemical ufes, in Refolving, Depurating and 

Extrafling of Metals, — ^ • 359 

Irs Martial Regulus how prepared, _ 359i3<^<^ 
Hew it a£ts upon Gold, in fulion, ^ i^tfi6% 
Whence its different Names among the Antient 

Chcmifts, • ■ ■ . ^— -^ 3<^3>3^ 

: Its Lead, how prepared, ' . * 3^4i? 



I N b E X. 

Jatiwmyt the ufe of its Reguloi in the Melieratloa 
of Metals. ■ i^i 

The ufe ot its Regulot in extraAing Metallic ^ 
Sulphurs, - — ^— ^ 3tf5f3^7 

Makes ^ Metals perfectly pure and bright, jtftf; 

■ 3tf7' 
Its Stellate Kegulus how prepared, }tf S 

A genuine ancl eafy way bf^ making its Stellate 
Regulus, — - —I 3^9 

Its Regulus, how purified from other Metallic 
Matters, '— — - 371 

—Its Stareafily deftroy'd and regenerated, 370 

^Convertible into various forms, viz^ by Calcina^ . 
tion and Vitrification, Fulmination andFufion 
with Nitre, — _ *72f375 . 

Its Glafs how tun>*d. to Antimonium ^iafbi^ 
reticiim^ . -— r- 574* 

Its Regulus, how tum*d into fiutter of Antimony, 

?75' 
Its Mercury, how obtained, — 389,39 k 

Its ufe in the produflion of Philofophical Gold, 

Aquafortis^ whether it differs from Spirit of Nitre, 

?♦ 

Its preparation, — — tb. 

How purified, — ~r 95 

Mixed, how purified, — ^ ^6 

' Whether it perfeAly feparates Gold, 183 

Its ufe in Gilding, 294—— 198 

Its ufe in the diflblutionof Silver, 334f3}$ 

Its ufe in reducing Gold to a Running Mercury, 

Aqua Regia, its preparation, — 105 

May feparate Gold, •-* aSz 

Its ufe in diflblving Gold, — 303',3o4 

Its ufe in fubf il izing Gold, . — 315 

The Changes it makes upon Gold, 31^ 

Its ufe in reducing Gold to a Running Mercury, 

378 

Aqua Saturni^ what, ' *io 

Aqu^du£ls afford Air and Wind, — ^ 7 j 

Arbor DiaM^ what, r— • 3?» 

Hoviimiit^ — — — ^ ib^ 



INDEX 

,/tthuc^ what, * — «i. --- i« 

' HowcbuntcHeired, i 57 

Jtrfinic Chambers, whence, — a^j 

^r/, its Chemical and Phyiical operations, 9 

Jlpie$, their diffufio'n in Glafi how promoted, 3 38 

Their ufes, — • — 74 

Atqws^ whence their Solidity, — 73 

. Corporeal, Air the caufe of their motion, 6% 

Aur::m fulminam^ itsPhasnomenaandEffe^s, 307 

How prepared, ' . 309 



TiAlfamm Sulpbwis Terebinthinitum^ what, itfi 

f -•^Junij^erinumt ot Jnifatum^ wh^t. ib. 

-^Sticcinatum^ how obtained, — ib. 

barberries, whence their Sharpnc(S| "^ 124 

Sath- Metal, what, — 555 

SecbcrU Opinion concerning the ultimate Refolubi- 

lity of things, ■ 5 

Method of obtaining Philofophical Gold, 411,414 

Senjawin, affords a {aline volatile Subftancc, 190 

Sezoar Mineral, whiat, . 551 

* Mi>^cd with MetalSi — — — 553 
Sezoardict/m Joviaie^ vfhcnce, — ^ 553 

How prepared, ' ' 55(^ 

^tinare, whence, ' 555 

How prepared, ' SSSiJH 

JiUrtiale, >^ hence, ■ ib. 

How prepared, — .355 

Solnre, whence, ^. — — • . 555 

How prepared, ■ ' %b. 

A more elegant way of making it, 354 

Sipmth, what, — — -- 18,545 

Isof a Metallic Nature, — -r* 345 

• Diflblved in the Spirit of Nitre, — ib: 
Its Mechanical ufe in making of Solders, 34^ 
Contains the nobler Metals, i^ ib. 

Sitmmn, what, ■ 15 

Sodies, how formed, . ■ 43 

Which more moveable and immoveable than 

Water, ■ — ^ 4tf 

Infipld, may have the EfTefls of Salts, r%% 

Sodies^ 



I N b 16 X 

Bodies^ Metariine , how collefled; ^ . . ^4 

Mixt| their Kumber bur fmalli , .--^ ' .. .< 

Natural, their Chemical Struftorc, 3 

Their Divifiofii , ; 1 ■ / ■■ ' ,i>. 

iff^/^i, their ufe. ——7 — -- . .75 

Borax ^ vfhsity ■' / . • >— '; ig 

:ffr^yj, how made, . ! ; 535 

ff///r^r of Antimony, what^ — • $50r3 

How thinned, v-^p . ife. 

How precipitated into Mercurius Vii^^ ' 351 

How It becomes a Diaphoretic, • 359 

GMmentationt what, ■. x% 

How performed, *~— '*• 

Calcination^ whatj — • af 

Dry, diflolves Gold, r- . 30* 

Calefa[tio7z, what, — - .'■ 'm . tfcl 

Calx^ Vitriolic^ whence, > .34? 

Of Lead, whence, ' ' ^^» 

Of Gold, its different Colours, •-« 30^ 

Of Gold, its different ufcs, -— .30(r 

Black, how made, >■ ^ ip. 

Saffron, coloured, how prepared, "^^v , {^* 
Yellow, how prepared, »• /\ :ib» 

Purple, how prepared, -t— '. 307 

Camomile, whence its S'ltncfs, • — . [^ 1^4 
Catara£ls, afford Air and Wind, — _ ' 75 

Cerufe^ how made, ; ■ 524. 

Oil liegulin o'-' Antimony, vAxiu — 373 

Chemijlry, what, — ^-i- — — r i 

Its Subject andObjeft", .— — ib. 

Its Means. *— • .— . ib. 

Its Ed, - jb. 

Its Efficient Caufe. -— — ib. 

' Its Antiquity, — — — . . ib^ 

Its principal Modem Authors, ^— % 

How to be Icarn'd, — — ib. 

Its Theory, — — . tb* 

Its Praftice, — — — ih. 

Its Subjefts, how to be confidcr'd, ^ ib. 

Cin^ 



I N D E X. 

Gnnabar^ what and whence, - - ^ i » . j^ 

Its Origin, — •—— . ij, 

How prepared, ^— 55 

How obtained, ' **^ i6^ 

Native, the fame as the Artificial, n% 
How compofed and feparated, iTSt^TS 

. How reduced to Metal, — — 175 
Effeas of its being fUblitned with Gold, ibid. 

lie' 

> May afford Philofophical Mercury, j 75 

Its fixatory Csementation, whence, 323 

Clays^ their ufe, _. ■ - : ■ " 74 

Coagulation^ what, ■ 45 

CoalSy how to be chofe, ■ 71 

Their kinds, ■ ' — ib. 

or Wood, how theydifferi — ^ ib. 

Mineral, their force, " 7a* 

Cohobation^ what, — — — * 55 

- How performed, •— ib. 

The manner of its Aflion, . ~ ib. 

Color at ion^ what, and how performed, %^6 

Effected two ways, — a 97 

Its ufcs in Gilding, •— • ib* 

How it examines Gold, ' — — . 297 

Colotirijb^ what. — 297 

Its ufes in Gilding, — ib. 

How it affefts Gold, — ib. 

How made, — — 298 

Combination^ by Colleftion, what, — %% 

How Sulphur is fufed into Metal by it, ^\6% 

By Union, what, ■ " ^4 

Colleftive, what, — 4? 

By Union, — — — 44 

By Fermentation, — ib. 

: Its Inftruroents, •— ib.. 

Its Phyfical Modus. •-«<— 45 

Of Water and Oil, whence, — 50 

Its Confequences, — 51 

Natural, what, — 5* 

Comminution^ what, ■ ^8 
Comfojition^ Combinatory, what, -^ ,^ 
ComtoundSi how known from Mixts, 
To be examined before principles, -* 



IN D E X. 

Cotntounds^ mixt with Waters of all kincU, ;i$ 

Misct with Earths, — — /> [ib* 

How affcfled by Refolution and Diflblution^' >i 

Their feveral kinds, — > ^ 23 

Artificial, -p— ^p— ^ ;./ 24 

How refolvcd, •-— i, . >a]^;32 

Volatile and fixed, whence, •— V 31^33 

Totally volatile or fixed, how diflblvable, > « 33 

Their incorrofible part obtained by Edulcoration 

and Precipitation, without heat, 39 

. Of Commixture, whence, n^— 5* 

Covtiguity of Bodies explained, r— \ii 

Co»rm///r^ of Bodies explained, — -• .\\.ib* 

Copper^ what, — — - 15 

Kearly related to Iron, ■ 314 

How readily calcined with Sulphur, 324,325 

' Is calcinable with Antimony and Arfenic, ... $16 

With Salts imo Vitriols, — ib. 

Particularly with the Acid of Sulphur, i& 

Its Vitriol convertible into that of Iron, 527 

Soluble by j^qua fortis^ — -?• ib* 

In Vinegar, — — — . 5** 

The difference of its Solution from that of Silver, 

How made into Verdigrcafe, -^ 328 

Its Medicinal Preparations, •— 350 

How made to reiemble Silver, 55'-^'''^555 

• How in the more common ways, / ib. 

How in the Sublimer Metallurgy, 3 3^ 

How made to refemble Gold, ""^ 335 

Corrofion, what, — - • »*- 28 

Hot and dry, what and whence, 37 

In the way of Fufion, what, -~ ib. 

Cream of Tsirtsir^ what, ~^ , 121 

Cn'^//5, what, — — •.22 

Aperitive, of Iron, what, - . 529 

i^llringent of Iron, what, . ^^• 

Of Iron or Copper, what, — 166 

Martii, dulcified, what, — • . •. 87 

. Its ufc in making Philofophical Gold, . -, 420 
Hov/ made aperitive, — -^ . \ 33? 

Antinwriiams^ what, . — -'-^ . . >c 55^ 

dietattonm, what, ?-'--? •• -w-^''^ 

Crocus^ 



I N D E X. 

Crocus^ ful|>huratied, of Tron and Copperi how ob- 

uined, -■■ ■ ■■ •-*-< 325 

Chide-Sl^ch, what, -— . x%i 

Cryftalof Nitre, whence. ^ ?j8 

Cfyft0lli^ationt ^hzt. ~ 43 

Crjj/?i7/5 of Tartar, wbati -^ * m 

Cppellation, what| . ■'■■ ; ■ ■ 41 

How performed, — • i>. 

Its various Circumfiancesi^ — a7}|ix7j 

The Rationale thereof, -^ a75»i77 

The Procefs iipplicable to the refining of Gold 

and Silver, — ^79 

^ Has its Imperfe»5>ions and Inconveniencics. ib. 

The Foundation thereof, on what it depends, 

'280 

H6w Lead iinks in the Operation^ , ib. z%i 

C«^^/5, how made, 270,27^ 

Amps^ what, — ^ 249 

iiecantation^ what, — 30 

iDetonarion^ what, — ^ 52 

fDeJlrulfion, its feveral kindi, — 2d— a8 

fDt(foluuofj^ its produflions in a folid form, 2 c 

In a fluid form, —— ib. 

fDrof'Sul^hur^ what, ~— i5(f,!tfo 

EArtb and* Water, the immediate Principles of 
. Mixts and Compounds, -— ^ 8 

Of three kinds, ~ ib. 

The Principle of Reft, -— -. 6^ 

Earths^ how difpofed to combine into heteroge- 
neous Aggregates, • « 13 
How difpofed to combine into homogeneous onesi 
* ib* 
Primitive, not pure of themfelves. ib. 
Compounded, — - — • ib. 
^ Not folid. — . — ibk 

Always (ufpended In Waters, -— • 'P 

Wha,t, in a Chemical Sciife, \ ^^ 



D 



1 N D E X. 

firffht is calditable with Ancimotiy tski Arfenic^ i%t 

With Salts imo Vitriols, » — .-^ ^ ^ i>, 

FarticulariywiththQ Add of Sulphur, /^< 

SduWe by ^^/^ /brm, ' "' " ■■ ! ■'!■• 3^T 

In Vinegar, ■■■■■■■i •r-r 3j« 

, : Its Medicinal preparationsi . . m^,: ... ^%^ 

A fine cupreous Subftance ibund in^ it^ ^ jjo 

Its curious Chennical u{e» •«-.-^ ^jt 

; How converted into Steely . ■■ """ ■ .j^j 

How hardened, — ^. : •'r^*^ 33^ 

. How foftoed for Gravingi ••♦'*:• . ^A 

Graduates Glafe, ■ ■ !■ ■ *■*• 357 

lh)«-y?//>il, their ufcy -*- — ~ \ 74 

Iron-grate J iti ufe, . — . — ^ ^8 

• ■ iL. \:^ . ■;;• 

L^C Sulfhuris^ vf\iz% — ^ 158 

Lamination^ what, — •*• *— .v 27 
Z^Wf/, fed with Oil, its ufe, >- - 7a 

Fed with the Spirit of Wine, Its ufe, ■■ ■■ ibf 

Zead, vfYk^tt ■ > '■' ■' — — ' 15 

Imbibci the ignobJcr Metals, --— !• 

How it ftnks in the Cupel. ■ > ■ i«i ■ 180 

Its principal preparations, what, -•••» 340 

its Medicinal and Chemical ufes, -rr '^ 

Its various preparations, how reduced to their Orl* 

ginal Metal, -~ — — 34* 

•' Its Sugar, how made, •i*— • . ik* 

• its Magiftcry, how made, •—1-. . it. 

Its Calx, — • . -r^ HI 

Its Glafs, how made, . >^ " « 3*5 

^ Its Mercury, how obtained, •~- 381— 38 J 
J^emmons^ whence their fharphefs, — »*4 
Lintation, what, -— ^ — ^7 

l^ime^ what, — — ^ " ' . 18 

Contains two Subftances, — ^ M® 

How it becomes volatile, " ■- . " ij» 

Whence its Decoaion becomes totenfely redf i^t 

< Of a faline nature, ' • "^ I5» 

!ts cffefts proved by Expctlmcnt, »5»t' 5 » 

' Its ufe in the affair of Metals, 1 5^fi 5 } 

jAMors, difiblvcnt, their Mechanical Agencji tf tf,tf 7 

Their formal Activity, on what it dependant 6 7 

F f ^ . Ifly 



liters, differ fpccific^ly,''*^ ''" i-f ; 6r^ 
iiifciiq^ how ]^iiced.ptenlt<ttUyi^ ' v ^^i*-^ ■ ; ^46"^ 
iirt^j -wbftt, — • I—— . ■ ; 13^ 

.^heir compofitionandufw^ ■ '^'"^i%S^i^% 

Mdnnn\''vifhst^ '■ ;'■; '' r '..'rv -.'".. ■•■ -'^t^". > u •.^^ 

^ri(5, their ufe,'"''^ "^4^7^ " ,..-^^:'^y •^'[ . 7 J" 

Medicine o(t&Q iccop^ ot^^r^'wj^ftV^'r ,1 1 =fT^. ,40,5 

iJd*|^ " "'— ' '3J-^3<^ 

'lli^ir Mechanical Agency^, ,.- t- vT ; j tf^'??^^' 

'1[1[)eir formal Ai^ivityv. on j^^^ v 6j 

JiiScrfp^m^^ -^ . •: ^^« 

FhiloibphicaljNvlienoe ibe.ppnt^^ them, 

.y Whence the;fr|unrd inddry,,,<,^. ;,,r::!^..7 3^^, 
;i«?m/ry. what, .u.,5/ '." \rnw > ?^ 

' 'Hbw procuYaBI? |ik^^.the coiumpo^, s .1. .,. >' ^ ,5^ 
-Its Op€rSf ion^ fepiradVe or prepacgtive^ ' / f^. 
;-fi[ow ch'^nged into Lead,^ — j^-r?.: '..' 5-7 

•Tts Analyfis very^dlflficult, . ;,- .. ^ 1 ,. i/ - r ^' '.;^ ^ ;iorf 

How galnM from its^OfcX ^^^^^ j ' u^A' - ' - " ^ ^.^^* 
, ^its Nature metalliV in general^ l^i ; ... ^^ i^^ \ ,; ,^ao.7 
l^Iti^peciesTiard ttf fe determihej^|L,^^'^^ 
'Whether reduciHe to ^ '' ^i^^^/^^'^i^^ 

yis common Changes^;, .\-. ^^ r> ' * '' ^ ^urr'^^^j^-^ 
Animated J t5 ngtjijrc'ajKd/prcparatign,,!^ 
' PhilofbpKical and / Anrmat^d» their, JAij^tyl, and 
•^ ■ Species, ; ■ " ',i*r)' ;, ' ^;.»r7,vrjVv^ 
* "Their fbiindaticin and ufi<,,. ,J.. -tt> , .a^2<J,:^i.7 
^Affo^da red precipitatei^'^ ; ^^^^^^jmiff^^^^^/^^,'. l^.tif 
,* Sabl i mii te, its com ojlbii cjhap^^ ,{ . , . jri-^z i^ 
'/'The foundation prjt$6perauom V'" ' V1M14 

>V(fm/?^^-Sublimate, fwe^t, what^ -^ 11 tf 

i'A mof?ejtti:iQu$.one|^ .. , .vt-t—^,;^, ,-*?♦' 
Its yellow Precijii&fc^:V' -TT^r, .*; \ ^.f •: v. Xi* ' 
*Battly recoverable ffNom alf it» F?P^^^^^??*»^%^ 

. ;Whc«her augmented by jst 'Saline %ir|t»^:^^ J ^i» 1 » ; 
'• ^. The. thing couiiite&^^dby^e^^^ 
^ fit aiir itsQil.-?' ^.."'. ViC hK '.^' 






^^^^^^^ F^ipiUted /er y|f in. the PhilofiipliMrall 



.at5^-*^ltf«.; 




How dmilled into Liq^upr fer ft^ and recovered 

in a running form, ~r-4 . > ?^?^^,V 

How gcfi^rated, _ ;;~* v^ ; , ., liz^i^ifl 

Itsufe in the pradtt6lionbf PhilofophioalOo^ 
How fixed into Metals by Digeftion^ 44*; 

^fm/n>5 of Bodies, whitj ; ^.^-^-^ - " ' kf^^ 
Arguments for ana againft the j^eality of th^^^ 

Have a real , Exiftence, ^ • . -■ f ^, . : , J77 

. May be procured in practice upon . juft foui^^ 

";' tions,"' ■ > ' " * " . ■ "'" .v; ,;*; ";V jjf-? 

Of Metals, their ttfes, . r. ;. »* ' .'^;^ ^w''!:^^ 

How to fix thcni Wto j^ermanent Goid,' 39* 
Which the beft Propyls foijfk^rnfj 0D/]i*J»39? 

Metal, Cefbatic, vfhaii ' ''^\;'^^"' ^^ 
Dead, what, — -i- r . , 

Mfals, formed xjX !Seihisr\ J^ar^Ji^ 
What, - ■•-^-i^' ^' "rr-V'-.' 
Their Fiifibn, :»., .t . 

How refolvcd into Fluids, / •,-— -^ ^^,ij. 
Their Fufidh; how effeacd,; * , ,— rr' ■\.<, M 
Whether reducible to Mercury, ^ 
ingencJral, what," ''\\:'!:>r-'r^^' ^^ 
H^^dividedr ' ■ •^^,. ■ . ' '•' T^:^\ii^ 
J^erfeii and iraperfcfl, what, ^:^'^^^ ij. 
^Compleat.ihd incomplcat, wha^^ - -^ Vi^ti^^^^V ^^* 
*How the pcrfefl and impcrfeft differ, • ^/' ib^ 
Whether naturally produc d mjnjjantu }z^'j.^^%^x 
How far they countenance the Artificial, .' ■^,..;;|f I 
How feparated from thcrrOrea,^ afo,2i|86^ • 
How fcpatatcd from one another^ ;;' . ~^ j j a(J8, 
The tiic required in their aflfay by CupeUaii6n,il'. 

Metals^ I nil rumcRt s feq^uif f;d (^^ fjicxv Cupell^io^^ 

JUineral Confipounds reduced tQ^ye Clares, r^^^.jrS 
Mimrah formed of »?f/;^r> Earths^ . — • ; ^ ^14 
^ifnium, hfow made; ' ■■ :,. ...'.■. .' . ^. ^i. ;ij|i 

jMiiw, their principal and ejBR^Ienl Caurc, ., , ,.^y » • 
Thfcir kft principal and efficient Qjtilft 
AreGenericaTdir Specifical, V r 
Ff 4 



I K D E X. 

Miirf/^tobe exathiiiiedbefcfePrM • i^ • 

Cpoipored with Waters of all kind«;i i ii i » 1 9 
Compofed with Eaiths, - > "b ,„\ i>. 

How a£re£ledbyRerolution aDdPtd&ltttion, %i 

\/irtificial, Hi ' . ' . '■ ! " 24 

Qriginal, their firitnnefs and infepftrability^ 1 1 
Miocture^ its Brmnef^ and iofeparabilityi ^^'mm ib. 
jif(?//r/5 of Solution, on what it depends, £% 

Motion, its Inftriunental Aftivity, ■ id 

JifucilageSf combined by Confermentation, xjz 
Are attenuated Earths, - ' ■ ^41 

Vegetable and Animal, •—*- • 242 

Animal, how obtained, "i 143 

How procured, — • •— - .244 

How purified, w . •'4— ib. 

Of Seeds and Roots, what, — -^- ib. 

Mucilaginous f^tts^ what, ■ " ■■ » 243 

Muffle^ its ftrufture, — ^ 270 

N. 

NJture^ i ti Chemical and Phyfical operations, 9 
Nitre^ what and whence, — ib. 

Nitre, how generated and procured, 88,89 

Its generation illiiftrated by Experiment, 90 

How Refolved, -— — — ? 91 

The Principle of Cryftallization, — - ib: 

Its Cryflalline Subftance how refolved, _ 91 
Illuftrated by Experiment, ■»• 95 

Whether its Spirit differs from ^^Mybriti/, 94 
Why not fubftituted in the room o( Aqua for- 

tts, . — — — 94,95 

fluid, its properties and e(te£)s unon Metals, 96 

Whether it contains an Earthy iubftance> 97 

Its ufe in the Vegetable kingaom, 110 

Vitrwu Antimoniatum^ how rnade^ -^ X45 

■ ' . o. 

OAkiveOii^ whence its Aflringencyt • r 124 
* 0/7, what, i — — '. ?^ ^\ f J 

^ ' Ter deliquium^ what, — — \ j,ti^ft 

-■• Of Tartar /#r deliquium^ what, . i»* 

^;/f. their Origin, — '-r-r- 14 

' rhcy mix with Sugar^ — ^r» "5 



IN DnEX. 

OilSf Eflcniial, whence, . . .i . .> .. . , ifg^ 
How diftilled to the beft Advantage, i.$7^S$' 
Frpm foft Rofini^ Goma, (^c. . , i88 

Whether it be Sale or Oil that flavours the VlTater 
V ttfed in the Operation, . ■■■ p 189 

May be obtained by means of the Sun and Wrong- 
er heat| -••*• /' mmm |p0 

Empyreamatic, whether they contain an Acid,i 98 

May appear in the form of Water, zo^^ 

Mercurial, fheir u(e in finding the PhiIo(bpherV 

Stone, --.'..•■-■■ » ' . ■ -ip^ , 421 

Oleum SulfhurisperCamfahamt l^ow procured, 1(4, 

Ores^ how found, — r— ^^6% 

- How prepared for Fufioo,. ■ ■ ■ . ^ ^ib. 

How afiCayM, ^r^. \ •— - i^z 

With what Matters mixed and infe£led in tho 

Mine, ■ , .^p-^.,. ,.;. 2tfj 

Why fejparated before Fufion. ,... -rr-* / ^64 

The DimcMl ties attending their (eparation,xff 5,sd7 

Stubborn, what, and their Mixture, 277 

. How treated by Cupell^tion^ — ^ " ik 

•; •• .■ -p.' • •••• ^ 

' ' ' ^ ' <. •♦•..•■ 

PHilofofher*s Stone^ > .. ■ . ;, 395 

Tranfmitted from the Egyptiflns to the v^r'tf- 
tians^ ^ud to Taracelfus^.. •^j:, .>V '!^* 

How put down, •TT • ~^ ^^^ 

' How revived) but to fmall advantage, , ^ /v395 
-The three fitmous Orders of Inquirers aft^pr. (it; 

Philofophical Sulphmr necefiary fdr finding it^ 41 tf 
Common Sulphur, how far ufeful in the w6rk,4i7» 

The manner of the Qperatlon, — i>. 

Caution^ for the work, ^ •— ^-^ * 4<J> 

Croms MarfiSi the nature of its Tinflure for thia 

ufc, ~ ■ 4»o 

Its Procefs depends upon Mercurial Oils, 4^' 

DiireAions for coming at it, — 42&«f«-4a4 

Vbojpborus, SalMn\ ^^y^U ■ ■ ■ '5* 

^o^wder of Gold, - — r ■■ ■■ ■ 34» 

Q>recifitation^\k^U ' ' ■■ • - . 4' 

Its Rule, — •-r J»?*^ 



. • i 



fhyficali' t^at^:r^/!i;^rf JC.^.^^ ^<Jfe 

' CSicmical; what, . , ^. ^.•, ,— nr .^^^ , ..j •.?«» /•■. . ; -i 

•pHow produced and diftinguifficd, w;,}- :r- ■;'.., y% 
^ - Foun4 more in fflmo. pai;ts tbgn jii pidkcr^i^^^^^^^! »,. ; 
Mcyilti »ani[6fitffek'Wdt 148 

fPhcisfi for making Arltificjial jMjCtalaf ; ^ •Tt.. . : a 54 ,v. 
By Precipitation,^' ' ' ,. •^— ^ v ', ; .. 4hi5$ 

^- \Rdyi of the Sunc their cterii^i^l uf?, i - H 

il(s«!i^^■whl<"^^^-fii^ ;.;' ;•• % •;^.;,^^^,.;^.i, 

: RiB^atim^ M/Kat iand lipw j^rp^inbtc^/^' ^ , : #s,3<j 

Ret^Lead^ how made, ' ^^ -^^ " < ^ --^ . 1341 

Richer, Careleji^ 'i*hat, . — " . v >,'.., .^ j^S^jt 

Rmatiofj. what;; :;: — i^^- ' >^. ,:>-^^\*<wi 
How^fed, -^ r \^ • .-^^ .. ^ v./^>;i 

wf.bi^ ■:v-- ■■■■'^';-- '::,;,::i:Ha.:::i;;,^:fe:•■ 

How rehdrcd'Mdleapie, j ., vr-^TTrBrx^ -aSfl 




f beSbiiid^eikphiJrctic;"^"*' '^ ' ' "^^ 7*1 
<rHoW prepared Jor tne bufineGi^oC.-^ ^!^phO"v .^ 
-^-■^•^rctic, "" " 'ir^ ■"'''"'•..•.ivTr'^3.53^ 

Jlej?*///o»,tt8Tcvcral kmds, -r?. ;;/*,(>^1ti8 

*&• what, -^^^. ^,^ ..r^^r^Kw':^., .40,1.8$ 

Where they lodge, ;^ r-r ^ ; v ic-; ^ t*. 

Their Matter kndAnalyfis,.^ * V . >r!; . : ih. 

Roiption^ fccondand third,^ ;w)biati . ' s/.*. . . 405 

RffJ^yof Sulphur, what,, .y' ;.„,., ;,^^^ j8 



> *-■ 



Qowvaitered by repeated Sublimation, it. 



JOI 
10% 



^Hr 



I .^ rOrE 7.?:. 

Whether an aclil Spirit be obtainalile ^qmlti^,^ Jp.ry 
Its effefts when ruDltmed with othec i>odie^ ;; lof ~ 
How it makes a Solvent; of GpJ|d^i^ ^quaJR^t^h^.r^ 

How it aSsIn procunngMerc|irlcs'ofMetaU|^ 

Sal'Gem^ wljat,^;-; ■■'- ' ; '-^ ■; _ ' -r" ., . ^ . .. '^' i8 
^^r/^i Acid^ obtainable in grieat plenty .from KM^piz^^ 

^4/^ common, what aid Whthfib'/ ' ;| , . ,:v .^<^ 

Of three kinds, "T*^ . ' ^ •••^V ^>T-^ 

. How procuredft'bm Sea- Water, ^ ^^_;^- ^ ?^ 
Its materiat Principlest ""'— ^''ib. 

Howfeparatedandregeiierated, - 99 

How it ads in producing Me^f ury*(|lfbliiiutc^^^^ 
. *• " Butter pf Antimony. V ^ '.^'rr* , , v ., 7<ji$^ioo^^^l 
How in pro^ucinlg tho imoakihg Spirit^, s 9bTrri5) i^| 5^ 
Gonftitutes a "new matter witli ^Lin^e^ A*V' vu*!fi^^5i 
Precipitates acid Solutions^ .: / T!^^^^^^'J^^^ 
DiflTolves^ulphufsV '/^^iiLi^./.^^.^^ -.t.iit^A 

KvLMfer detiquium^ ' '' "' i .j ,- ? :J^v^,?5?y3" 

iSd//^ /fixed, how made by Incineration!^ ^ f ^ ^jij^ ' 
«S!(i/r,' Muriatic^ (bund in the Unne of Aiiimtl^i 1^^ 
iji/r, Univerfal, whence, .J ,7 v. "^^ . V'.75^w^^ 
Volatile, contained in plenty ii!i.AiMtnallV</(fr^ 
In Putrefied Vejetables, . , - ^ i*|«^if^ 
Whether univerfally of the AmiBpngihand Fof erf 

Suddenly producible frbxtiyegetables by Ae^eid^ 

^^/rj, their Origin, ■ ' ■ :,.i4f^4 

Solid, what, " r-?- . .,. -- \v ? ^ -ff *. ^ 

What, ingenerali ' -r. • x- ••JT* I 

How mixed with other bodies, . r— ^ Vi ^ 

Are eflTentially fluid, ' -^--^ . '.ifc 

How they become (olid, -r--^ * t^** n 

Their difference, whence ^^ ' *r^ \. ih .t 
How to difcover their nature, \' 78 

Di£fer according to the nature of the Sttbjeft, rs} 
Are the produfUon of Artificial Com bin a i ioi^, ^ 

, .. • • \. ^3}i*•^ 

IUuftratedind&epffoduaionofVi^gar^54^itf' "" 



I N-D E. }6 

StiftSi A Ikaline^produce^ Isy ArtificialComUiutloii^f 3 1 
Shewn by their ]m>diiftiony I37,t38 

Whether tihiverfally the fajtae, 138—141 
Anificial and Vegetable, their Qrig!n» t%6 



Shewn from Experiment, 



108, no 



Their Combination, w.hencel ' xopttto 

Effential, what and whence^ ii3»iH 

Their greateft plenty in what Subjc£l$i xi6 
Their Analyfis, ~ it. 

VoJatile, whence, ■ i '' m" 51 

Sand, its ufe, — — — - ' 74' 

Saturnus Cornuus, how prepared, \ 381,38* 

How made into Running Mercury, 38^9383 

^f^'*Sir//, what, — . 18 

Seeds ^ Emulfivc, what, .«-« ' ' %C 

Their cffefts, — — ^ ib. 

Separations the Foundation of it, *' 6i 

Silver^ how formed of SeckerU Earths^ 1 S 

' How refined, •^ 179 

The Inconveniencies that attend its Refining, ib. 

How feparated from Gold by Quartatiotti^ iSi 
' More ufeful than Gold. ~. 221 

■What, — — — . ib. 

Its Mechanical ufirs, — -— 312 

Its ufe in forming of VeflelsiCf^^t ««• ibi 

^* How made duftfle, — ib* 

How mixed with other Metals, — ^ ib* 
• Its Medicinal ufes, ■ ■ ' 323 

' Its curious Chemical ufes, ' '^v«—— 3^3i3^4 

Diffolvcd by JqUa fortis^ :' -ii— ^ 3*7 

Burnt, what, « '^ -i—T- aSo 

Slud, what, ~ .•. ; ■■ ' >■ '■ >• a* 

Solvents ^ Aqueous, ho^ obtained, - — ^ 733 
Jo/5)rV(w, what, * *— - .."^-^ *^ 

Sootf whav — ^'*\ rrh* '' •*• * 150 

If ields a volatile Salt, —it 131 

' One of the moft volatile bodies, proved by Exjms- 

riment, J '^— ' ^ /^, 

Sorrel^ whence itrfliarphcjis, — * 114 

spelter^ what,* ' 'cf.-",- -~* . .345 

/ Is of a metallic Nature;^* ^ . •^ — ^ i> 

Is of mechanical u(e in making Solders, ^ 

Contains the nobler Metals, jc> ^^^^ ^' ^ 



I N D EX 
J^irii^ inflasmablc^ whan >« : 50^ 

Sprifig-'mifer^ applied in Chemical opentioiift 73 
SMlt wbar, ■■■■ » » » . . ■■!» -n 335. 

^iM^Jt precidiia, what, i' ■ >> sh 

Their differait kiiids, -~-^ i<^ 

, How known, •— . ^Jfixjtf 

How. they arc cu( and jpolifhed, '-— * >. '»jtf 
Whence they receive their Colovri, unccrtaioi 137 
SiMes^ fofc or earthy, — — ^ — — 161 

^/^n^, what, — '■■ ■ . 14$ , 

^»*;>^x, gcncrical, whence, — *^ 77 

Sublimation^ what, «-«— • «^ ^7 

-S«^^t what, ~— — - ao 

; How obtained, ■ ■ ■ ' ■ lii. 

Its Purity and dry Confiftencei whence, i># 

ContainsOil and acidParcs, upitm Experimental! ft 

• • ■;>«• 

, Proves a dry Spirit of Wine, -r-^ . , ^^^^ 

How prepared and refined, . «— r- ;^UY|^i4 

Procurable from other Vegetables befidcuthe'Sa* 

gar-Cane, -— • ' -— — ; : \:^'^;;^i4. 

Whence iti fweetnefi, — •«rr''*4 

Afr^r of Lead, how made, , ^ 7— ' 34* 

iSiwi^i^wr, what, ! !-r— . : ,.:./'* 

Whence, ; *— ^^ I. J*4 

; Pulverixet all Metals, except Gold and ailvef^ j 37 
. How obtained, . •-— — ' , j55 

.. What in the Vulgar and Chemical Senfe^ 154 
Common, its Origin, . -•— • iii$M^ 

Its compound ^ature upon Analyfis, «"^I5^ 
Where found, ' ■»!■ — — ib. 

Whether its Acid be a conftituent partr 1 5^>^ 
Its component parts,* « ■ — ^0> 

Is totally fublimabic in Occlufo^ ■>■ "^ t to 

Whether it may b$6xed orWatiliz^to advaIl- 
• tage, — ^ ... *. !*• 
Its volatile TtnQure, how obtained^ ib. 
Whendiffi>lvcd, gives Signs of a Metallic iTature^ 

., Proved by Experiment} : — id; 

, Di0crs according to the place 'tis found in, itf s 

How ^ombin^<| with Mctab.in making Vitriol, 

iW,r^7 
I Sul- 



*/ 7^ C" T,': \f 

SUlPbiij^t Commo'hj how prepared, ., *^ ; 55 

^£r^j&»r- Cham bersV whence, . .nn im . . ^Vj 

Sutpbur fixed, how ij is rcftlly cxtrafted, i5tf|a<7 

*The diiHcuItiear Aat anead in £xtr«ctioii| l^« 

""Metatlfc^ how extraflcd, ^- ^ a57|258 

^How introduced into other metallic bodieii ijS--^ 

SUtphnr^ Poffilj what, / -'?-^ 
Suifbur^ Solid, how precipitated, 

^How diflblvedi . ^ i ■ '■ 
Sulphur^ Virgirij what, \mL 

Sulphur of Vitriol, what, 

'How prepared^ 




Whether naturally contained in Nitrc^ . 

'An Attempt to procure it from Nitre/ 
sulphur Vivum^ whajt, ^ — -«• , 
SiitpbtirSt Kow they are fixed, , . ] '^rmm , 

;How they become more Cauftic, ^ 
Sifttphurs of Pine-apples, Lycopodium^ &(;*. whence, 

? andwhatf -r— — "^ • 1^8 

Of Wood-Coals, what, and whence^ . '. 1941195 
Sulphurs t Animal, their lunds, '*««» iptf 

How prepared fimply, -■ ■ •— • i^. 

By Diftillation, .. '. , ■ _ ■'■■ .; ■ ' ii&, 

^iHow reflificd andctearM of their empyrcikma;r97 
Sulphurs^ Mtt^erat, dififerem firom the cpthnibn, 184 

Vcget^blCj xlafled, -" "" '. "* '85 

V^erable, how beft cxtraiftedi -■ — tji-r-iisiis 






T 



*^i^rr/ir, what, and howol^tained in plepty,ii7iii8 
'Obtainable from Sugar, fTTT^'y v' 18,113 
The manticr of its concf eting, .. 77?- ,. ii9,ixg 
^ow purified; ' .'^ ;. . ■ ■' '*' *. > .< 1*0,121 

Its conrtituent parts, .',. j . ' - n . ^ . . 121,12,1 
How it isrefolved, .-■ :'.,. ■ \ ■ ■ . • . t; ,- ■' 1^ 
Qjntains two kindi ot Salts^ ' 
Affords a kind of Sal-annnnmac, 
Abounds With a copious Oil, 

^efit what, and its Structure, 

STjb^m^, not well underftood, 

yi«i,whyof a brittle? nature^ 




r 




8fiii, what| '\ . I I , III „ . .•A^;, 

Wittcchtelcat ttf« yhci'%dto to piitt^;*^^ 

r In Salt a fpccifi« ig^nft tlfc Ch61ic» \ k^ 

V An excellent Afttihyfteiitl'''" ''^ '"^ ' a-aoT 

lt> ChcmUat ores/ * ' ^' U.ilT^'^ '"-^^ 

-kof mechanical ufe in makinSiSolden., ..a*- 
tSontaiiw the nobler Metal», .^'^-iUli '! ''• JfcT 

TifiSiure of tht fecond Order, what, • .-i * Jo 5^ 
'-Philofophicalrits nature an4 difpofirio»i *' 4^0^' 

tHow obtatnabhj; ^-i^JL.^ \ Lil£:jgJ'' 

ThhitmitRoott w|»eiic« lift AftrineencV,' ^ A ''' 1*4. 
7'r^<f, Silver. wKai;-' -;<"n^>i>ii?- ••'^^■- 'id^-JJ* 
'How made.- •>-'-iU- ^>--;::^'> '^i^'fu^ 
Trituration, what,-^ -i> - \ •"^^^^^^'i'^ 

Tferf, bitumrnbus, its Nature; • ' ' "'^^LiD^W' 
y»/^«^«, what, — iU-^; f—r 345:? 

Js ofa metallic Nature. - — — ^ _ */ 1^^* 
«It$ mechanical ufe in making pf So)(len|' ' ^ / '*s4(f 
Contains the nobler' Metals/ \ ' ' " ' /r ^ Jih^. 



y Their.fevej:al parts. .?»;♦. , -f-«m • •; .rw; iji 

Their Divifion, . . ■ i ■ ;, ;:;>-,^ 
l^<?/», meta^llic its Conte^ts^ howperveftpd^v 
l^^/m of ail Metals contain Gold and Silveri 
^iVg^r made artificially V rr^r- 

Vinegar Si whence, ^-;-i-. ' i— i- 

Viirificationy to what it belongs, ^— 
Vitriol^ the beft way of obtaining it, 

Whence its common voliatile Spirit. — 

Its alchemical volatile Spiriti 

Its common Spirit, how made. 

Its metallic parts, how feparatedi 

How prepared by Evaporation. 

How by Calcination. 

Its component parts, ■ i 

Bfefti Af iu reHcryftaUisatioD„ 




I N D E X. 

r/frn)/} how it becomes an ea;rtby Subfiancd, 81 
How. it quits its Water, — i^ mmm^ ih. 

Its pure and faline partsj bard to be feparated, 

83 

Of Copper, convertible into that of Iron, 317 

Volatilization^ whence, ■■ ^5 

W. 

Wy^/er, what, — . ^3,199 

Its Droportionto other bodies^ «— ii. 
Its eflential property, •««.^« i—. ij^. 

Its Motion, explain d> — . |>, 

How it becomes thick and muddy, — «» H. 
How it contributes to EfiTervefcenco, ^4>tf S 

Its different kinds, — — — • ^ i>. 

Whether it be a fluid Earth, . i^ioi 

Differs as to the particles it contains, •— loi 
AciduldS and ^mrma imperfeftly underftood, 

aoi,ao& 
Tho' infipid, may have flrange effeAs, 202,203 
Simple, when diftilled, whether it retains its pri- 
mitive Virtues, — — 204,205 
Waters^ their kinds, — — — 13 
Weather, bad in Minerals, what, — — - 249 
How driven away, — - • -^ it. 
J^«^,what, — — ac,i3 5 
Made of Muft in cold Cellars, 13) 

YEtlow Lead, how made, -— 341 

Tolks of Eggs, their nature and efife£ls, 3^ 

• Z 

ZINK, what, — — 18 

Its nature metallic, -— 345 

Its mechanical ufc in making of Solders, 34^ 

Contains the nobler Metals, ■ i*. 



TKE EN2), 
AUG 2 3 1918 



i